2011 SKODA SUPERB ignition

Airbag system
Description of the airbag system
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
System description
16
Airbag deployment
16
The airbag system provides, as a supplement to the seat belts, additional oc-
cupant protection during severe frontal and side collisions.
WARNING■ An airbag can only offer you optimal protection in combination with a
fastened seat belt .■
The airbag is not a substitute for the seat belt, but instead forms part of
the complete passive vehicle safety concept.
■
To ensure passengers are protected with the greatest possible effect
when the airbag is deployed, the front seats must be correctly adjusted to
match the body size » page 9, Correct and safe seated position .
■
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.
WARNINGInformation on the use of the airbag system■If there is a fault, the airbag system must be checked by a specialist ga-
rage immediately. Otherwise, there is a risk of the airbag not being activa-
ted in the event of an accident.■
No modifications of any kind must be made to parts of the airbag system.
■
Any work on the airbag system including the installation and removal of
system components due to other repair work (e.g. removal of the steering
wheel) must only be carried out by a specialist garage.
■
Never make any changes to the front bumper or the bodywork.
■
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 ac-
cident. The airbag system must then be replaced if the airbag has been de-
ployed.
System description
Read and observe
on page 16 first.
The functional status of the airbag system is indicated by the warning light 
in the instrument cluster » page 40.
When the airbags are deployed, they fill with gas and inflate.
A grey white or red, non-harmful gas is released when the airbag is inflated.
This is perfectly normal and is not an indication of a fire in the vehicle.
Depending on the vehicle equipment, the airbag system consists of the
following modules.
› Electronic control unit.
› Front airbag for the driver and the front passenger
» page 17.
› Driver’s knee airbag
» page 18.
› Side airbags
» page 19.
› Head airbags
» page 20.
› Airbag warning light in the instrument cluster
» page 40.
› Key switch for the front passenger airbag
» page 21.
› Warning light for the front passenger airbag deactivation/activation in the
middle of the dash panel » page 21.
Note
■
The airbag system needs no maintenance during its working life.■If you sell your vehicle, provide the complete vehicle documentation to the
new owner. Please note that the information relating to the possibility of de-
activating the front passenger airbag must be included!■
When disposing of vehicle or parts of the airbag system, it is important to
comply with the national legal requirements.
Airbag deployment
Read and observe
on page 16 first.
The airbags inflate in fractions of a second and at a high-speed in order to beable to offer additional protection in the event of an accident.
The airbag system is only functional when the ignition is switched on.
In certain accident situations, the several airbags may be deployed simultane-
ously. 
16Safety

Deactivating airbags
Deactivating an airbag should be considered in cases such as the ones below. › If using a rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat (due to different
legal regulations, the airbag must be deactivated if using a forwards-facing
child seat in some countries) » page 22, Transporting children safely .
› If it is not possible to maintain a distance of at least 25 cm between the mid-
dle of the steering wheel and chest, despite the driver's seat being correctly
adjusted.
› If special attachments are required in the area of the steering wheel because
of a physical disability.
› If different seats have been fitted (e.g. orthopaedic seats without side air-
bags).
The front passenger airbag can be switched off with the key-operated
switch » page 21 , Deactivating the front passenger airbag .
We recommend that you ask a ŠKODA service partner to deactivate any other airbags.
Monitoring the airbag system
The operational capability of the airbag system is monitored electronically,
even if one of the airbags is switched off.
Airbag deactivated using diagnostic equipment › The warning light
 illuminates for approx. 4 seconds after switching on the
ignition and then flashes again for approx. 12 seconds.
Front passenger airbag deactivated using the key switch in the storage com-
partment
› The warning light
 illuminates for approx. 4 seconds after switching on the
ignition.
› The

 3

» Fig. 13 on page 21 warning light illuminates when the igni-
tion is switched on.
Note
■ The national regulations for switching off airbags must be observed.■A ŠKODA service partner will be able to inform you which, if any, of your vehi-
cle's airbags can or must be deactivated.Deactivating the front passenger airbagFig. 13
Key-operated switch for the front passenger airbag / warning
light for front seat passenger airbag deactivation
Only the front passenger airbag is deactivated with the key switch.
Switching off
›
Switch off the ignition.
›
Open the storage box on the front passenger's side.
›
Fold the key bit out completely for the radio key » .
›
Carefully insert the key into the key slot in the key switch as far as the stop.
›
Use the key to turn the slot of the key switch into position
2
» Fig. 13 OFF .
›
Pull the key out of the slot in the key switch » .
›
Close the storage box on the front passenger's side.
›
Check that warning light

3




 in the text illuminates after
the ignition is switched on.
Switching on
›
Switch off the ignition.
›
Open the storage box on the front passenger's side.
›
Fold the key bit out completely for the radio key » .
›
Carefully insert the key into the key slot in the key switch as far as the stop.
›
Use the key to turn the slot of the key switch into position
1
» Fig. 13 ON .
›
Pull the key out of the slot in the key switch » .
›
Close the storage box on the front passenger's side.
›
Check that warning light

3




 illuminates after the ignition
is switched on. 
21Airbag system

WARNING■The driver is responsible for whether the airbag is switched on or switch-
ed off.■
Only switch off the airbag when the ignition is switched off! Otherwise a
fault can occur in the system for deactivating the airbag.
■
If the warning light 
is flashing, the front passenger airbag will not be
deployed in an accident. Have the airbag system checked by a specialist ga-
rage immediately.
■
The key cannot be inserted in the key switch while driving. ■ Shocks can cause the key to turn in the slot and trigger the airbag!
■ The airbag could be triggered unexpectedly in an accident - it may result
in injury or death!
CAUTION
An insufficiently folded out key bit can damage the key switch!Transporting children safely
Child seat
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Use of a child seat on the front passenger seat
23
Use of the child seat in the front passenger seat
24
Child safety and side airbag
24
Classification of child seats
25
Use of child seats fastened with a seat belt
25
Children are generally safer on the rear seats than on the front passenger
seat.
In contrast to adults, the muscles and bone structure of children are not yet
fully developed. Thus children are exposed to increased risk of injury.
Children should be transported in accordance with the relevant statutory pro-
visions.
Child seats that comply with the ECE-R 44 standard must be used. The ECE-R
standard stands for: Economic Commission for Europe - Regulation.
Child seats that comply with the ECE-R 44 standard are identified with a test
mark that cannot be removed: a capital E in a circle and the certification num-
ber below
WARNING■ The national legal requirements must be observed when using child
seats.■
One should never carry children, and also not babies! - on one's lap.
■
Never leave children unattended in the vehicle. Certain outside climatic
conditions can cause life-threatening temperatures in the vehicle.
■
The child must be secured in the vehicle during the entire journey! Other-
wise, the child would be thrown through the vehicle in the event of an acci-
dent, causing fatal injuries to both the child and other occupants. 
22Safety

Operation
Cockpit
OverviewElectrical power windows
61
Door opening lever
52
Central locking button
55
Air outlet vent
110
Parking ticket holder
Operating lever: › Turn signal light, headlight and parking light, headlight
flasher
69
› Speed regulating system
161
Steering wheel:
› with horn
› with driver’s front airbag
17
› with pushbuttons for radio, navigation system phone and in-
formation system
122, 134
Instrument cluster: Instruments, warning lights and display
30
Operating lever:
› Information system
42
›Windscreen wiper and wash system
77
Air outlets in the central part of the dash panel
110
Regulator for left seat heating
85
Button for hazard warning light system
72
Regulator for right seat heating
85
Depending on equipment fitted:
› Radio
› Navigation system
Storage compartment on the front passenger side
94
Front passenger airbag
17
Air outlet vent
110
Key switch for switching off the front passenger airbag (in front
passenger storage compartment)
21
Door opening lever
52
Electric exterior mirror adjustment
801234567891011121314151617181920Light switch68
Bonnet release lever
187
Regulator for the instrument lighting and regulator for the head-
light beam range adjustment
68, 68
Storage compartment on the driver's side
89
Lever for adjusting the steering wheel
10
Driver’s knee airbag
18
Ignition lock
139
Pedals
145
Handbrake
144
Bars with buttons depending on the equipment fitted:
› 
START STOP
162
› 
Tyre pressure loss indicator
165
› 
Traction control ASR
155
›
Electronic Stability Control ESC
154
› 
Park Assist
157
› 
Parking aid
156
› 
Tailgate operation (Superb Combi)
59
Depending on equipment fitted:
› Gearshift lever (manual gearbox)
144
›Selector lever (automatic gearbox)
145
Depending on equipment fitted:
› Ashtrays
91
›Stowage compartment
90
Warning light for the deactivated front seat passenger airbag
21
Depending on equipment fitted:
› Operating controls for the air conditioning system
112
›
Operating controls for Climatronic
115
Note
The arrangement of the controls right-hand drive models may differ from the
layout shown in » Fig. 20. The symbols on the controls and switches are the
same as for left-hand drive models.212223242526272829303132333429Cockpit

Revolution counterRead and observe
on page 30 first.
The red scale of the revolution counter
1
» Fig. 21 on page 30 indicates the
range in which the system begins to limit the engine speed. The system auto-
matically restricts the engine speed to a steady limit.
You should shift into the next highest gear before the red scale of the revolu-
tion counter is reached or select mode D on the automatic gearbox.
Follow the recommended gear to prevent engine speeds that are too high or
too low » page 43 .
Speedometer
Read and observe
on page 30 first.
Warning against speeding
An audible warning will sound when the vehicle speed exceeds 120 km/h 1)
. The
audible warning is switched off once the vehicle speed falls below 120 km/h.
Coolant temperature gauge
Fig. 22
Coolant temperature gauge
Read and observe on page 30 first.
The coolant temperature gauge » Fig. 22 only operates when the ignitions is
switched on.
Cold range
The pointer in the left of the scale indicates that the engine has not yet
reached its operating temperature. Avoid high speeds, full throttle and high
engine loads. This prevents possible damage to the engine.
The operating range
The engine has reached its operating temperature as soon as the pointer
moves into the middle of the scale. At very high ambient temperatures or un-
der heavy engine loads, the pointer may move even further to the right.
High temperature range
The coolant temperature is too high if the pointer reaches the red area of the
scale. Further information » page 36.
CAUTION
■
Additional headlights and other attached components in front of the air inlet
impair the cooling efficiency of the coolant.■
Never cover the radiator - there is a risk of the engine overheating.
Display
Fig. 23
Display types
Read and observe on page 30 first.
The following information will be displayed.
› Distance travelled
» page 32
› Time
» page 32
› Details of the information system
» page 42
› Details of the service interval display
» page 48 
1)
This function is only valid for some countries.
31Instruments and Indicator Lights

Display types » Fig. 23 .
Segment display
MAXI DOT display
CAUTION
Pull out the ignition key if coming in contact with the display (e.g. when clean-
ing) to prevent any possible damage. On vehicles with the KESSY system,
switch off the ignition and open the driver's door.
Fuel gauge
Fig. 24
Fuel gauge
Read and observe on page 30 first.
The fuel gauge » Fig. 24 only operates if the ignition is switched on.
The fuel tank has a capacity of about 60 litres. If the amount of fuel reaches the reserve area (the pointer reaches the red scale range), the indicator symbol
is illuminated 
» page 39 .
CAUTION
Never drive until the fuel tank is completely empty! The irregular supply of fuel
can cause misfiring. This can result in considerable damage to parts of the en-
gine and the exhaust system.
Note
After filling up, it can occur that during dynamic driving (e.g. numerous curves,
braking, driving downhill and climbing a steep hill) the fuel gauge indicates ap-
prox. a fraction less. When stopping or during less dynamic driving, the fuel
gauge displays the correct fuel level again. This is not a fault.Counter for distance drivenFig. 25
Segment display / MAXI DOT dis-
play
Read and observe on page 30 first.
Display » Fig. 25
Trip odometer
Odometer
Daily trip counter (trip)
The counter indicates the distance you have driven since it was last reset - in
steps of 100 metres or 1/10 of a mile.
Reset trip meter
›
Press and hold button
7
» Fig. 21 on page 30 .
Odometer
The odometer indicates the total distance which the vehicle has been driven.
Note
If the second speed display is enabled on vehicles with a segment display, this
speed will be shown instead of the odometer.
Read and observe on page 30 first.
Use buttons
3
and
7
to set the time » Fig. 21 on page 30 .
The choice to change the display (hours or minutes).
The change of the displayed value.
In vehicles equipped with the MAXI DOT display, it is also possible to set the
Time in the Time menu » page 47.
AB3732Operation

Display of the second speedRead and observe
on page 30 first.
The display can show the current speed in mph 1)
.
This feature is provided for driving in countries with different units for speed.
MAXI DOT display
The display of the second speed can be set in the Alt. speed dis. menu
item » page 47 , Settings .
Segment display
›
Press the
3
» Fig. 21 on page 30 key repeatedly, until the odometer display
flashes » page 32 .
›
Press the
7
key while the display is flashing.
The second speed is displayed instead of the odometer.
Display of the second speed can be disabled in the same way.
Display in rear centre console
Fig. 26
Centre console at rear: Display
Read and observe on page 30 first.
The time and the outside temperature are displayed on the display in the rear
centre console when the ignition is switched on » Fig. 26.
The values are taken over by the instrument cluster.
Auto Check Control
Read and observe
on page 30 first.
Vehicle condition
Certain functions and conditions of individual vehicle systems are checked
continuously when the ignition is switched on.
Some error messages and other information are displayed in the MAXI DOT
display. The messages are displayed simultaneously with the icons in the MAXI
DOT display or with the warning lights in the instrument cluster » page 34,
Warning lights .
The Vehicle status menu item is shown in the main menu of the MAXI DOT
display whenever at least one fault message is present. The first of the fault
messages is displayed after this menu item is selected. Several error messages
are shown on the display under the message e.g. 1/3. This indicates that the
first of a total of three error messages is being displayed.
Warning symbols in the MAXI DOT display
Engine oil pressure too low» page 36Clutches of the automatic DSG gearbox are
too hot» page 33Check engine oil level,
engine oil sensor defective» page 37Thickness of brake pads» page 41Problem with engine oil pressure» page 33
 Problem with the engine oil pressure
If the  symbol is shown in the MAXI DOT display, you must have your vehicle
checked immediately by a specialist garage. The information about the maxi-
mum permissible engine speed is displayed together with this symbol.
 Clutches of the automatic DSG gearbox are too hot
If the  symbol appears in the MAXI DOT display, this indicates that the tem-
perature of the automatic DSG gearbox clutches is too high. 
1)
On models on which the speedometer indicates mph, the second speed is displayed in km/h.
33Instruments and Indicator Lights

The following message is shown in the MAXI DOT display.Gearbox overheated. Stop! Owner's manual!
 do not continue to drive! Stop the vehicle, switch off the engine, and wait
until the 
icon goes out – risk of gearbox damage! You can continue your
journey as soon as the icon disappears.WARNINGIf you have to stop for technical reasons, then park the vehicle at a safe
distance from the traffic, switch off the engine and activate the hazard
warning light system » page 72. The warning triangle must be set up at
the prescribed distance - observe the national legal provisions when doing
so.
Note
■ If the MAXI DOT display shows warning messages, these messages must be
confirmed in order to access the main menu » page 42 .■
As long as the operational faults are not rectified, the symbols are always in-
dicated again. After they are displayed for the first time, the symbols continue
to be indicated without any extra messages for the driver.
Warning lights
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
 Handbrake
35
 Brake system
35
 Seat belt warning light
35
 Generator
35
 Door open
36
 Engine oil pressure
36
 Coolant
36
 Bonnet
36
 Boot lid
36
 
Power steering / steering lock (system KESSY)
36
 Engine oil level
37
 Traction Control System (ASR)
37
 Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
37 Anti lock brake system (ABS)38 Rear fog light38

Lamp failure
38
 Adaptive headlights (AHL)
38
 Exhaust inspection system
38
 Glow plug system (diesel engine)
38

Engine performance check (petrol engine)
39
 Diesel particulate filter (diesel engine)
39
 Fuel reserve
39
 Airbag system
40
 Tyre inflation pressure
40
 Windscreen washer fluid level
40
 Brake linings
41

 Turn signal system
41
 Low beam
41
 Fog lights
41
 Cruise control system
41
 Selector lever lock / starter (system KESSY)
41
 Main beam
41
The warning lights indicate certain functions or faults.
Some warning lights can be accompanied by acoustic signals and messages in
the display of the instrument cluster.
After switching on the ignition, some warning lights light up briefly as a func-
tion test.
If the tested systems are OK, the corresponding warning lights go out a few
seconds after switching on the ignition or after starting the engine. 
34Operation