2012 SKODA CITIGO steering

Correct seated position for the driver
Fig. 78
The correct distance of the driv-
er to the steering wheel
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 75.
For your own safety and to reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accident,
we recommend the following setting.
› Adjust the steering wheel so that the distance A
» Fig. 78 between the steer-
ing wheel and your chest is at least 25
cm.
› Adjust the driver’s seat in the forward/back direction so that the pedals can be
fully depressed with slightly bent legs.
› Adjust the seat backrest so that the highest point of the steering wheel can be
reached with your arms at a slight angle.
› Correctly fasten the seat belt
» page 80.
Driver seat adjustment » page 38, Adjusting the front seats .ÐCorrect seated position for the front passenger
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 75.
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.
› Position the front passenger seat back as far as possible. The front passenger
must maintain a distance of at least 25 cm to the dash panel so that the airbag
offers the greatest possible safety if it is deployed.
› Correctly fasten the seat belt
» page 80.
In exceptional cases the front passenger airbag can be deactivated »

page 85,
Switching off the airbags .
ä
ä Front passenger adjustment
» page 38, Adjusting the front seats .Ð Correct seated position for the occupants on the rear seats
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 75.
To reduce the risk of injury in the event of a sudden braking manoeuvre or an ac-
cident, the occupants on the rear seats must observe the following.
› 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.
› Correctly fasten the seat belt
» page 80.
› Use a suitable child restraint system if transporting children in the vehi-
cle
» page 87, Transporting children safely .Ð Examples of an incorrect seated position
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 75.
Seat belts offer their optimum protection only if the webbing of the seat belts is
properly routed. Incorrect seated positions considerably reduce the protective
functions of the seat belts and therefore increase the risk of injury due to an in-
correct routing of the seat belt. The driver is fully responsible for himself and pas-
sengers, especially children. Never allow a passenger to adopt an incorrect seated
position when the car is moving.
The following list contains examples of which seated positions can cause serious
injuries or death. This list is not complete, however we would like you to familiar-
ise yourself with this subject.
Therefore, while the car is moving never:
› stand up in the vehicle;
› stand up on the seats;
› kneel on the seats;
› tilt the seat backrest fully to the back;
› lean against the dash panel;
› lie on the rear seat bench;
› only sit on the front area of the seat;
› sit to the side;
› lean out of the window;
£
ä
ä
76 Safety

WARNING (Continued)
■ Check the condition of all the seat belts on a regular basis. If any damage to
the seat belts, seat belt connections, inertia reel or the lock is detected, the
relevant seat belt must be replaced by a specialist garage.
■ Damaged seat belts which have been subjected to stress in an accident and
were therefore stretched, must be replaced – this is best done by a specialist
garage. The anchorage points of the belts must also be inspected. The an-
chorage points for the belts should also be checked. Note
The national legal requirements must be observed when using seat belts. ÐThe physical principle of a frontal collision
Fig. 80
Driver without a fastened seat belt/rear seat passenger without a
fastened seat belt
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 78.
The physical principle of a frontal collision can be explained quite simply.
As soon as the vehicle is moving, so-called kinetic energy (the energy of motion)
is produced both in terms of the car as well as in terms of the occupants. The
magnitude of this kinetic energy depends essentially on the speed at which the
vehicle is travelling and on the weight of the vehicle including the occupants. The
greater the speed and weight increase, the greater the amount of energy which
has to be absorbed in the event of an accident. ä The speed of the vehicle is, nevertheless, the most important factor. Doubling the
speed of the vehicle from 25 km/h up to 50 km/hour increases the kinetic energy
four times.
The common opinion that it is possible to support your body in a minor accident
with your hands, is incorrect. Even in a collision at only a low speed, the forces
acting on the body are such that it is no longer possible to support your body.
Even if you only drive at a speed of 30 km/h to 50 km/h, the forces that your body
is exposed to in the event of an accident can exceed a tonne (1 000 kg).
In the event of a frontal collision, occupants of the car not wearing a seat belt, are
thrown forward and strike in an uncontrolled way parts of the interior of the car,
such as steering wheel, dash panel or windscreen » Fig. 80 – . In certain circum-
stances you could even be thrown out of the vehicle, which could cause life
threatening or even fatal injuries.
It is also important that rear seat occupants fasten their seat belts as they will
otherwise be thrown through the vehicle in an uncontrolled manner in the event
of an accident A rear seat passenger who has not fastened the seat belt is a dan-
ger not only to himself but also for those seated at the front » Fig. 80 – . Ð
79
Seat belts

Airbag system
Description of the airbag system
Introductory information
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
switched on »
page 18.
The airbags inflate in fractions of a second and at a high speed to offer additional
protection in the event of an accident.
The airbag system (according to vehicle equipment) consists of: › an electronic control unit;
› Front airbags for the driver and front seat passenger
» page 83;
› side airbags Head-Thorax » page 84;
› an airbag warning light in the instrument cluster
» page 18, Airbag system ;
› a key switch for the front seat passenger airbag
» page 86;
› an warning light in the middle of the dash panel to indicate the front seat pas-
senger airbag is switched off » Fig. 86 on page 86 - .
A fault in the airbag system exists if:
› the warning light
 does not illuminate when the ignition is switched on;
› the warning light
 does not go out 3 seconds after the ignition is switched on;
› the warning light
 comes on when driving;
› the warning light showing a switched-off front passenger airbag in the middle
of the dash panel flashes;
› the warning light showing a switched-off front passenger airbag in the middle
of the dash panel flashes together with the warning light
. WARNING
■ The airbag is not a substitute for the seat belt, but instead forms part of the
complete passive vehicle safety concept. Please note that an airbag can only
offer you optimal protection in combination with a seat belt which is fas-
tened.
■ 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 75, Correct 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.
■ If there is a fault, have the airbag system checked immediately by a ŠKODA
specialist garage. Otherwise, there is a risk of the airbag not being activated 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 sys-
tem components due to other repair work (e.g. removal of the steering wheel)
must only be carried out by a

ŠKODA specialist garage.
■ Never make any changes to the front bumper or 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 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 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. Ð When are the airbags deployed?
The airbag system is only functional when the ignition is switched on.
In special accident situations, both the front and the side airbags may be trig-
gered at the same time.
The airbags are not deployed in the case of minor frontal and side collisions, rear-
end collisions, tilting of the vehicle and vehicle rollover. £
82 Safety

Deployment factors
It is not possible to generally determine which deployment conditions apply to
the airbag system in every situation. An important role is played by factors such
as the type of object that the vehicle hits (hard, soft), the impact angle, vehicle
speed, etc.
A decisive factor for the deployment of the airbags is the deceleration which oc-
curs. The control unit analyses the nature of the collision and activates the rele-
vant 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 suf-
fer severe damage to the bodywork as a consequence of the accident.
The following will be deployed in the event of a severe frontal collision:
› driver’s front airbag;
› passenger’s front airbag.
The following will be deployed in the event of a severe side collision: › Side airbags on the side of the accident.
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. Note
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. Ð Front airbags
Fig. 83
Driver airbag in the steering wheel/front passenger airbag in the
dashboard Fig. 84
Safe distance to steering wheel/inflated airbags.
In the event of a severe frontal collision, the front airbag system offers additional
protection for the head and chest area of the driver and front passenger.
The front airbag for the driver is housed in the steering wheel » Fig. 83 – .
The front airbag for the front seat passenger is located in the dash panel above
the stowage compartment 
– » Fig. 83.
If the airbags are deployed, the airbags are filled with a propellant gas and infla-
ted in front of the driver and front passenger » Fig. 84 – . The forward move-
ment of the driver and of the front passenger is cushioned when they make con-
tact with the fully inflated airbag and the risk of injury to head and chest is thus
reduced. £
83
Airbag system

The airbag allows the gas to flow out of the inflated airbag in a controlled manner
(depending on the load of the particular car occupant) in order to cushion head
and chest areas. The airbag then deflates subsequently to such an extent, after
an accident, to again provide a clear view forward.
WARNING
■ For the driver and front passenger, it is important to maintain a distance of
at least 25 cm to the steering wheel or dashboard A
» Fig. 84. Not maintain-
ing this minimum distance will mean that the airbag system will not be able to
properly protect you – hazard! The front seats must always also be correctly
adjusted to match the body size of the occupant.
■ The airbag develops enormous forces when triggered, which can lead to in-
juries if the sitting position or seated position is not correct.
■ There must not by any further persons, animals or objects positioned be-
tween the front seated occupants and the deployment area of the airbag. ■ Never transport children on the front seat of a vehicle without using a prop-
er restraint system. If airbags are deployed in the event of an accident, the
child might suffer severe or even fatal injuries!
■ It is essential to always switch off the front passenger airbag when attach-
ing a child safety seat to the front passenger seat where the child is seated
with its back facing in direction of travel » page 86, Key switch for the front
seat passenger airbag . If this is not done, there is a risk of the child suffering
severe or even fatal injuries if the front passenger airbag is deployed. When
transporting a child on the front passenger seat, pay attention to any relevant
national regulations regarding the use of child safety seats.
■ The steering wheel and the surface of the airbag module in the dash panel
on the passenger side must not have stickers attached, be covered or modi-
fied in any other way. These parts should only be cleaned with a cloth that is
dry or has been moistened with water. No objects such as cup holders, mobile
phone mounts, etc. must be attached to the covers of the airbag modules or
be located within their immediate vicinity.
■ Never place objects on the surface of the front passenger airbag module in
the dash panel. Ð Side airbags Head-Thorax
Fig. 85
Place of installation of the side airbag/deployment area of the side
airbag
In the event of severe side collisions, the side airbag system
Head-Thorax pro-
vides additional protection for the upper body (chest, stomach and pelvis) of pas-
sengers in the vehicle.
The side airbags are housed in the upholstery of the seat backrests of the front
seats » Fig. 85 – .
When the side airbags » Fig. 85 -  are triggered, the belt tensioner is also de-
ployed automatically on the relevant side.
The load of the occupants is cushioned when plunging into the fully inflated air-
bag and the risk of injury to the head and upper body (chest, stomach and pelvis)
is reduced on the side facing the door. WARNING
■ Your head should never be positioned in the deployment area of the side
airbag. You might suffer severe injuries in the event of an accident. This ap-
plies in particular to children who are transported without using a suitable
child safety seat » page 88, Child safety and side airbag .
■ There must not be any further persons, animals as well as objects posi-
tioned between the occupants and the deployment area of the airbag. No ac-
cessories, such as cup holders, should be attached to the doors. £
84 Safety

WARNING (Continued)
■ If children adopt an incorrect seated position when travelling, they may be
exposed to an increased risk of injury in the event of an accident. This can re-
sult in serious injuries » page 87, Child seat.
■ The airbag control unit operates with pressure sensors located in the front
doors. For this reason no adjustments must be carried out to the doors and
door panels (e.g. additional installation of loudspeakers). Resulting damages
can have a negative affect on the operation of the airbag system. All work on
the front doors and their panels must only be carried out by a
ŠKODA special-
ist garage.
■ In the event of a side collision, the side airbags will not function properly, if
the sensors cannot measure the increasing air pressure inside the doors, be-
cause the air can escape through large, non-sealed openings in the door pan-
el. ■Never drive with removed inner door panels.
■ Never drive, if parts of the inner door panel have been removed and the
remaining openings have not been properly sealed.
■ Never drive, if the loudspeakers in the doors have been removed, only if
the loudspeaker openings have been properly sealed.
■ Always make sure that the openings are covered or filled, if additional
loudspeakers or other equipment parts are installed in the inner door pan-
els. ■ Always have work completed by a ŠKODA

Service Partner or a competent
ŠKODA specialist garage.
■ Only hang light items of clothing on the hooks fitted in the vehicle. Never
leave any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets of the items of cloth-
ing.
■ Ensure that there are no excessive forces, such as violent knocks, kicks etc.,
impact on the backrests of the seats otherwise the system may be damaged.
The side airbags would not be deployed in such a case!
■ Any seat or protective covers which you fit to the driver or front passenger
seats must only be of the type expressly authorized by
ŠKODA. In view of the
fact that the airbag inflates out of the backrest of the seat, use of non-ap-
proved seat or protective covers would considerably impair the protective
function of the side airbag.
■ Any damage to the original seat covers in the area of the side airbag module
must be repaired without delay by your
ŠKODA specialist garage.
■ The airbag modules in the front seats must not display any damage, cracks
or deep scratches. It is not permissible to use force in order to open the mod-
ules. Ð Switching off the airbags
Deactivating airbags
Deactivation of airbags is envisaged only for particular instances, such as if: › using a child seat on the front passenger seat, in which the child has its back to
the vehicle's direction of travel (in some countries this must be in the direction
of travel due to different legal regulations applying)
» page 87, Transporting
children safely ;
› not being able to maintain a distance of at least 25 cm between the middle of
the steering wheel and chest, despite the driver's seat being correctly adjusted;
› special attachments are required in the area of the steering wheel because of a
physical disability;
› other seats have been installed (e.g. orthopaedic seats without side airbags).
The front passenger airbag can be switched off with the key-operated
switch » page 86.
We recommend that you ask a

ŠKODA Service Partner to switch off any other air-
bags.
Monitoring the airbag system
The functionality of the airbag system is also monitored electronically when one
airbag has been switched off.
If the airbag was switched off using diagnostic equipment:
› The airbag warning light
 lights up for 3 seconds each time the ignition is
switched on and then flashes after that for about 12 seconds.
If the airbag was switched off using the key switch on the side of the dash pan-
el:
› The airbag warning light
 comes on for 3 seconds after the ignition has been
switched on;
› The deactivated airbag is indicated by the illumination of the warning light

    in the middle of the dash panel » Fig. 86 on page 86 - . Note
■ The national regulations for switching off airbags must be observed.
■ A ŠKODA Service Partner will be able to inform you which airbags in your vehicle
can/must be deactivated. Ð
85
Airbag system

Wheels
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 97.
Wheel rims
Also thoroughly wash the wheel rims when washing the vehicle on a regular ba-
sis. Regularly remove salt and brake abrasion from the wheel rims otherwise the
material will be affected. Damage to the paint layer on the wheel rims must be
touched up immediately.
Light alloy wheels
After washing thoroughly and treat the wheel rims with a protective product for
light alloy wheels. Products which cause abrasion must not be used to treat the
wheel rims. WARNING
Water, ice and grit in the brake system can affect the braking efficiency – risk
of accident! CAUTION
Severe layers of dirt on the wheels can also result in wheel imbalance. This may
show itself in the form of a wheel vibration which is transmitted to the steering
wheel which, in certain circumstances, can cause premature wear of the steering.
This means it is necessary to remove the dirt. Note
We recommend that any repairs to damaged paintwork are carried out by a
ŠKODA Service Partner. ÐUnderbody protection
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 97.
The underside of your vehicle is protected for life against chemical and mechani-
cal influences.ä
ä As damage to the
protective layer when driving cannot be ruled out completely,
we recommend that you inspect the protective layer on the underside of your ve-
hicle and on the chassis at specific intervals – preferably at the beginning and end
of the winter.
ŠKODA Service Partners have suitable spray products and the necessary equip-
ment available, and are familiar with the instructions for use. We therefore rec-
ommend that touch-up work or additional corrosion protection measures are car-
ried out by a ŠKODA Service Partner. WARNING
Never use additional underbody protection or anti-corrosion agents for ex-
haust pipes, catalytic converters or heat shields. When the engine reaches its
operating temperature, these substances might ignite – risk of fire! Ð Protection of hollow spaces
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 97.
All the cavities of your vehicle which are at risk from corrosion are protected for
life by a layer of protective wax applied in the factory.
This wax protection does not require to be inspected or re-treated. If any small
amount of wax flow out of the cavities at high temperatures, these must be re-
moved with a plastic scraper and the stains cleaned using a petroleum cleaner. WARNING
Safety regulations should be observed when using petroleum cleaner to re-
move wax – risk of fire! Ð Artificial leather and materials
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 97.
The artificial leather can be cleaned using a damp cloth. If this does not prove to
be adequate, these parts can only be treated with special
solvent-free plastic
cleaning and care products . £
ä
ä
101
Taking care of and cleaning the vehicle

Clean upholstery cover materials and cloth trims on doors, luggage compartment
cover, etc. using specific cleaning agents, e.g., dry foam. Use a soft sponge, brush,
or commercially available microfibre cloth. Use a cloth and a specific cleaning
agent to clean the roof trim.
Some clothing materials, such as dark denim, do, in part, not have sufficient col-
our fastness. This can cause damage or clearly visible discolouration to seat cov-
ers (fabric or leather) even when used correctly. This particularly applies to light
seat covers (fabric or leather). This is not a defect in the seat cover, but poor col-
our fastness of the clothing textiles. ÐFabric covers on electrically heated seats
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 97.
Do not clean the seat covers
using moisture as this can damage the seat heating
system.
Use a specific cleaning agent such as dry foam or similar to clean the covers. ÐNatural leather
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 97.
Depending on the amount of wear-and-tear, the leather should be cleaned on a
regular basis.
Normal cleaning
Clean soiled areas of the leather with slightly moistened cotton or woollen cloth.
Severe soiling
Ensure that the leather is not soaked through at any point and that no water gets
into the stitching of the seams.
Dry off the leather with a soft, dry cloth.
Removing stains
Remove fresh water-based stains (e.g., coffee, tea, juices, blood) with an absorb-
ent cloth or household cleaning paper. A specific cleaning agent is required for
dried-on stains.
ä
ä
Remove fresh
grease-based stains (e.g. butter, mayonnaise, chocolate, etc.) with
an absorbent cloth, household cleaning paper, or use a suitable cleaner if the
stain has not yet penetrated into the surface.
Use a grease solvent for grease stains which have dried in.
Remove specific stains (e.g. ball-point pens, marker pen, nail varnish, dispersion
paint, shoe polish, etc.) with a special stain remover suitable for leather.
Leather care
Treat the leather roughly every six months with a suitable leather care product.
Apply only a small amount of the cleaning and care product.
Dry off the leather with a soft, dry cloth. CAUTION
■ Avoid leaving the vehicle for lengthy periods in bright sunlight to avoid the
leather from bleaching. If the vehicle is parked in the open for lengthy periods,
protect the leather from direct sunlight by covering it.
■ Sharp-edged objects on items of clothing such as zip fasteners, rivets, sharp-
edged belts, jewellery and pendants may leave permanent scratches or signs of
rubbing on the surface.
■ The use of a mechanical steering wheel lock may damage the leather surface of
the steering wheel. Note
■ Use a care cream with light blocker and impregnation effect on a regular basis
and each time after cleaning. The cream nourishes the leather, allows it to
breathe and keeps it supple and also provides moisture. It also creates surface
protection. ■ Clean the leather every 2 to 3 months, remove any fresh stains as they occur.
■ Also look after the leather dye. Refresh any areas with a special coloured leath-
er cream as required.
■ The leather is a natural material with specific properties. During the use of the
vehicle, minor optical changes can occur on the leather parts of the covers (e. g
wrinkles or creases as a result of the stress of the covers). Ð
102 General Maintenance