Note
■ The whole heat output will be needed to defrost the windscreen and side win-
dows. No warm air will be fed to the footwell. This can lead to restriction of the
heating comfort. ■ The warning light AC lights after activation, even if not all of the conditions for
the function of the cooling system have been met » page 73, Introductory infor-
mation . The operational readiness of the cooling system is signalled when the
warning light in the button lights up. Ð74
Using the system
Setting the air conditioning system
Recommended basic settings of the control elements of the air conditioning sys-
tem for the respective operating modes:
Set-up Setting of the control dial
Button
Air outlet vents 4 A B C 1 2
Defrost/defog windscreen and
side windows
a) Desired tempera-
ture 3 or 4
Do not switch on Automatically switched
on Open and align with the side
window
The fastest heating To the right up to
the stop 3
Briefly switch on Switched off
Opening
Comfortable heating Desired tempera-
ture 2 or 3
Do not switch on Switched off
Opening
The fastest cooling To the left up to
the stop briefly 4, then
2 or 3 Briefly switch on
b)
Activated Opening
Optimal cooling Desired tempera-
ture 1, 2 or 3
Do not switch on Activated Open and align to the roof
Fresh air mode - ventilation To the left up to
the stop Desired position
Do not switch on Switched off
Openinga)
We recommend that you do not use this setting in countries with high humidity levels. This can result in heavy cooling of the window glass and the following fogging from outside.
b) Under certain conditions, recirculated air mode » page 75 may come on automatically; the warning light will then light up in the button.
Note
■ Controls A
» Fig. 79 on page 73
, B
, C
and buttons 1
and 2
.
■ Air outlet vents 4 » Fig. 77 on page 71 .
■ We recommend that you leave the air outlet vents 3 » Fig. 77 on page 71 in the
opened position. ÐRecirculated air mode
Recirculated air mode prevents polluted air outside the vehicle from getting into
the vehicle, for example when driving through a tunnel or when standing in a
traffic jam.
Switching on
› Press the button
1
» Fig. 79 on page 73
and the warning light in the button
illuminates. Switching off
› Press the button
1
» Fig. 79 on page 73
again - the warning light in the but-
ton goes out.
Recirculated air mode is switched off automatically if the air distribution control C
» Fig. 79 on page 73
is turned to position . Recirculated air mode can be
switched on again from this setting by repeatedly pressing the button .
WARNING
Do not leave recirculated air mode on over a longer period of time, as “stale”
air can cause fatigue of the driver and passengers, reduce attention levels and
also cause the windows to mist up. The risk of having an accident increases.
Switch off recirculated air mode as soon as the windows start to mist up. Ð
75
Heating and air conditioning system
Climatronic (automatic air conditioning system)
Introductory information
The Climatronic maintains fully automatically a convenience temperature. This is
achieved by automatically varying the temperature of the air flow, the blower
stages and air distribution. The system also takes sunlight into account, which
eliminates the need to alter the settings manually. The automatic
mode » page 77 ensures maximum well-being of the occupants at all times of
the year.
Description of Climatronic system
The cooling system only operates if the following conditions are met:
› engine running;
› outside temperature above approx. +2 °C;
› AC 18
» Fig. 80 on page 76 switched on.
The AC compressor is switched off at a high coolant temperature in order to pro-
vide cooling at a high load of the engine.
Recommended setting for all periods of the year.
› Set the desired temperature, we recommend 22 °C.
› Press the button
AUTO 12
» Fig. 80
on page 76.
› Move the air outlet vents
3 » Fig. 77 on page 71
and 4 so that the air flow is di-
rected slightly upwards.
Switching between Celsius and Fahrenheit
Press and hold the buttons AUTO and
AC » Fig. 80
on page 76 at the same time.
The information in the desired temperature measuring unit appears in the display. Note
We recommend that you have the Climatronic system cleaned by a ŠKODA spe-
cialist garage once every year. Ð Overview of the control elements
Fig. 80
Climatronic: Control elements
The buttons/control dial Setting the interior temperature
The displays Display of selected interior temperature
Degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit
Automatic air conditioning mode
De-mist or de-ice the windshield
Direction of air flow
Recirculated air mode
Cooling system on/off
Set blower speed
The buttons/control dial Setting the blower speed
Interior temperature sensor
Automatic mode
De-mist or de-ice the windshield
Air flow to the windows
Air flow to head
Air flow in the footwell £ 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
76
Using the system
Recirculated air mode
Switch cooling system on/off
Note
The interior temperature sensor 11
» Fig. 80
is located in the bottom part of the
device. Do not stick anything on or cover the sensor, otherwise it could have an
unfavourable effect on the Climatronic. ÐAutomatic mode
The automatic mode is used in order to maintain a constant temperature and to
demist the windows in the interior of the car.
Switching automatic mode on
› Set a temperature between +18 °C and +29
℃.
› Move the air outlet vents
3 » Fig. 77 on page 71 and 4 so that the air flow is
directed slightly upwards.
› Press the button
AUTO 12
» Fig. 80
on page
76; AUTO is shown in the display.
Automatic mode is switched off by pressing one of the buttons for the air distri-
bution or by increasing/decreasing the blower speed. The temperature is never-
theless regulated. ÐSetting temperature
› The required interior temperature can be set with the control dial 1
» Fig. 80
on page 76 after switching on the ignition.
The interior temperature can be set between +18 °C and +29 ℃. The interior tem-
perature is regulated automatically within this range. If you select the tempera-
ture below +18 ℃, “LO
” appears in the display. If you select the temperature high-
er than +29 ℃, “HI” appears in the display. In both limit positions the Climatronic
operates at maximum cooling or heating capacity, respectively. The temperature
is not controlled in this case.
Lengthy and uneven distribution of the air flow out of the vents (especially
around the feet) and large differences in temperature, for example, when getting
out of the vehicle, can cause susceptible individuals to catch a cold. Ð17
18 Recirculated air mode
Recirculated air mode prevents polluted air outside the vehicle from getting into
the vehicle, for example when driving through a tunnel or when standing in a
traffic jam.
Switching on
› Press the button
17
» Fig. 80
on page
76; the symbol appears in the dis-
play.
Switching off
› Press the button
17
» Fig. 80
on page
76 again and the symbol disap-
pears from the display. WARNING
Do not leave recirculated air mode on over a longer period of time, as “stale”
air can cause fatigue of the driver and passengers, reduce attention levels and
also cause the windows to mist up. The risk of having an accident increases.
Switch off recirculated air mode as soon as the windows start to mist up. Note
If recirculated air mode is switched on for around 15 minutes, the symbol will
begin to flash in the display as a sign that the recirculated air mode is switched on
long-term. If the recirculated air mode is not switched off, the symbol flashes for
around 5 minutes. Ð Controlling blower
The Climatronic system controls the blower stages automatically in line with the
interior temperature. However, the blower stages can be manually adapted to
suit your particular needs.
› Turn the control dial 10
» Fig. 80 on page 76 to the left (reduce blower speed)
or right (increase blower speed).
If the blower is switched off, the Climatronic system is switched off. £
77
Heating and air conditioning system
WARNING
■ The brake booster only operates when the engine is running. Greater physi-
cal effort for braking is required when the engine is switched off - risk of acci-
dent!
■ Depress the clutch pedal when stopping or braking a vehicle with a petrol
engine and manual transmission in the low rev range. If you fail to do so, the
functionality of the brake booster can be impaired - risk of accident!
■ If a front spoiler, full wheel trim, etc. is mounted retrospectively, it must be
ensured that the air supply to the front wheel brakes is not reduced. Other-
wise, the functionality of the brake system could be impaired - risk of acci-
dent! ■ Please note that the handbrake must be fully released. A handbrake which
is only partially released can result in the rear brakes overheating, which can
have a negative effect on the operation of the brake system - risk of accident!
■ Never leave children unattended in the vehicle. The children might, for ex-
ample, release the handbrake or take the vehicle out of gear. The vehicle
might then move off - risk of accident!
■ A lack of fuel can cause irregular engine running or cause the engine to shut
down. The brake assist systems would then be without function - risk of acci-
dent! ■ Adjust the speed and driving style to the current visibility, weather, road and
traffic conditions. The increased safety offered by the brake assist systems
must not tempt you to take greater risks than otherwise - risk of an accident!
■ The normal braking system is still fully functional if there is an ABS fault.
Visit a ŠKODA specialist garage immediately and adjust your style of driving
according to the damage to the ABS as you will not know how great the dam-
age is and the limitation it is placing on the braking efficiency. CAUTION
■ Observe the recommendations on the new brake pads » page 121.
■ Never let the brakes slip with light pressure on the pedal if braking is not neces-
sary. This causes the brakes to overheat and can also result in a longer braking
distance and excessive wear. ■ All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres approved by the manufactur-
er to ensure the brake assist systems operate correctly. Note
■ If the brakes are applied in full and the control unit for the braking system con-
siders the situation to be dangerous for the following traffic, the brake light
flashes automatically. After the speed was reduced below around 10
km/h or the
vehicle was stopped, the brake light stops flashing and the hazard warning light
system switches on. The hazard warning light system is switched off automatical-
ly after accelerating or driving off again. ■ Before negotiating a steep downhill section, reduce the speed, shift down into
the next lower gear (manual gearbox) or select a lower drive position (automatic
gearbox). As a result, the braking effect of the engine will be used, reducing the
load on the brakes. Any additional braking should be completed intermittently,
not continuously. ■ Changes to the vehicle (e.g. to the engine, brakes, chassis or another combina-
tion of tyres and wheels) can influence the functionality of the brake assist sys-
tems »
page 157, Accessories, changes and replacement of parts .
■ If a fault occurs in the ABS system, the ESC, ASR and EDL and XDS also do not
work. A warning light » page 21 comes on if a fault occurs in the ABS system. Ð Information for braking
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 81.
Wear-and-tear
The wear of the brake pads is dependent on the operating conditions and driving
style. The brake pads wear more quickly if a lot of journeys are completed in
towns and over short distances or if a very sporty style of driving is adopted. If
operated under severe conditions, the thickness of the brake pads must be
checked by a ŠKODA specialist garage before the next service appointment.
Wet roads or road salt
The performance of the brakes can be delayed as the brake discs and brake pads
may be moist or have a coating of ice or layer of salt on them in winter. The
brakes are cleaned and dried by applying the brakes several times.
Corrosion
Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt on the bake pads occur if the vehicle has
been parked for a long period and if you do not make much use of the braking
system. If the brake system is not used much or if there is corrosion on the sur-
face, we recommend cleaning the brake discs by firmly applying the brakes from a
fairly high speed. £
ä
82 Using the system
What influences the driving safety?
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 103.
The driver is fully responsible for himself and his occupants. If your driving safety
is effected, you place yourself and the oncoming traffic at risk.
The following guidelines must therefore be observed. › Do not get distracted from concentrating on the traffic situation, e.g. by your
passengers or mobile phone calls.
› Never drive when your driving ability is impaired, e.g. through medication, alco-
hol, drugs.
› Keep to the traffic regulations and the permissible speed limit.
› Always adjust the driving speed to the road, traffic and weather conditions.
› Take regular breaks on long journeys – at least every two hours. ÐCorrect seated position
ä
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Correct seated position for the driver 105
Correct seated position for the front passenger 105
Correct seated position for the occupants on the rear seats 105
Examples of an incorrect seated position 105
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.
■ Always assume the correct seated position before setting off and do not
change this position while driving. Also advise your passengers to adopt the
correct seated position and not to change this position while the car is mov-
ing.
ä WARNING (Continued)
■ If the occupant adopts an incorrect seated position, he is exposed to life-
threatening injuries, in case he is hit by a deployed airbag.
■ If the occupants on the rear seats are not sitting upright, the risk of injury is
increased due to incorrect routing of the seat belt.
■ The driver must maintain a distance of at least 25 cm to the steering wheel.
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!
■ 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 in
the 12 o'clock position or in any other way (e.g. in the middle or inner edge of
the steering wheel). In such cases, you could severely injure the arms, hands
and head when the driver airbag is deployed.
■ The seat backrests must not be angled too far back when driving otherwise
this will affect proper operation of the seat belts and of the airbag system -
risk of injury!
■ Ensure that there are no objects in the driver's footwell as they may get
caught behind the pedals when driving or applying the braking. You would
then no longer be able to operate the clutch, brake or accelerate.
■ 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! Ð
104 Safety
WARNING (Continued)
■ The seat belts for the rear seats can only fulfil their function reliably when
the seat backrests are correctly locked into position » page 52.
■ The belt webbing must always be kept clean. Soiled belt webbing may im-
pair proper operation of the inertia reel » page 135.
■ The seat belts must not be removed or changed in any way. Do not attempt
to repair the seat belts yourself.
■ Check the condition of all the seat belts on a regular basis. If any damage to
the seat belts, seat belt tongue, inertia reel or the lock is detected, the rele-
vant 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. 98
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 107.
The physical principle of a frontal collision can be explained quite simply.
ä 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.
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. 98 - . 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. 98 - . Ð
108 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: › front side airbag on the side of the accident;
› head 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. 102
Driver airbag in the steering wheel/front passenger airbag in the
dashboard Fig. 103
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. 102 - .
The front airbag for the front seat passenger is located in the dash panel above
the stowage compartment
- » Fig. 102.
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. 103 - . 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. £
112 Safety