2012 SKODA OCTAVIA warning light

NoteIf the front passenger front airbag is deactivated » page 151 the belt tensioning
function for the front passenger seat is switched off.
Lane Assist
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Operating principle
126
Explanations of situations
127
Information for the driver
128WARNING■ Lane Assist only operates as a support- it does absolve the driver of the re-
sponsibility to maintain full control over the vehicle's steering.■
Lane Assist only makes the driver away that the vehicle is approaching the
line between two lanes by means of a steering intervention. The driver retains
responsibility at all times for keeping the vehicle within the lane.
■
Lane Assist can help you keep the vehicle within the lane. However, it does
not steer the vehicle for you. The driver retains full responsibility for steering at all times.
■
The camera need not be able to detect all lane lines. A steering intervention
can only be made when the vehicle approaches a detected line between lanes.
■
Some objects on the road may be incorrectly detected as lines. As a result,
an incorrect steering intervention may take place.
■
The function of adaptive lane guidance Assist system may be restricted
when driving e.g. over rutted roads, on a slope, or if there are lateral winds.
■
Do not use the Assist system in poor weather, e.g. black ice, fog, heavy rain -
risk of accident!
WARNINGThe camera's powers of detection may be limited by a range of external influ-
ences. In this case, the Assist system may not be able to detect the line cor-
rectly, if at all. The camera's powers of detection may be limited, e.g. in the fol- lowing:■
in poor visibility conditions, e.g. fog, heavy rain, thick snowfall;
■
when dazzled by the sun;
■
when dazzled by oncoming traffic;
■
by vehicles ahead;
■
when the camera viewing range is obstructed by an obstacle.
CAUTION
Do not attach any stickers or similar objects to the windscreen to avoid impairing
the functions of the Assist system.
Operating principle
Fig. 117
Windscreen: Camera viewing
window for Lane Assist
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn- ings on page 126.
Lane Assist (in the following referred to as the system) detects the lines between
lanes using data obtained from the camera (continuous and interrupted) » Fig. 117.
When the vehicle approaches a detected line between lanes, the system makes a
light movement of the steering wheel in the opposite direction to the boundary
line. This corrective steering intervention can be overridden at any time.
The strength of the steering movement can be activated/deactivated in the Info-
tainment » operating instructions for Infotainment , chapter Setting vehicle sys-
tems (CAR button) . 
126Using the system

Where necessary, the system only performs a steering intervention when the
boundary line is detected on at least one side of the lane.
If the turn signal is switched on prior to driving over the boundary line (e.g. whenmaking a turn), no steering intervention takes place when the vehicle approaches
the boundary line. The system regards the situation as an intended lane change.
The system works above speeds of 65 km/h and is designed for driving on motor-ways and streets with high-quality markings (the boundary lines must have high
visibility).
Adaptive lane assist
Using steering intervention, the system helps to keep the selected distance from the boundary lines on both sides of the vehicle. A steering intervention is only
made when the boundary lines are detected on both sides of the vehicle.
If the position within the lane is changed, the system quickly adapts and holds
the newly-selected position.
Adaptive lane assist can be activated/deactivated in the Infotainment » operating
instructions for Infotainment , chapter Setting vehicle systems (CAR button) .
Explanations of situations
Fig. 118
Instrument cluster display: Examples of system indications
Fig. 119
Instrument cluster display (colour): Examples of system indications
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 126.
Explanation of graphic
Dis-
play » Fig. 118 ;
» Fig. 119DescriptionAThe system is active, but not ready to intervene.BThe system is active and ready to intervene.CThe system intervenes when approaching the right-hand boundary lane.DThe system intervenes (adaptive lane assist).
The system can be activated/deactivated in the following menu in the informa-
tion display:
■ Assist systems
■ Lane Assist
Warning lights in the instrument cluster
Illumi-
nates » Fig. 118DescriptionThe system is active, but not ready to intervene.The system is active and ready to intervene or is currently
intervening. 127Assist systems

Safety
Passive Safety
General information
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Safety equipment
138
Before setting off
138
What influences the driving safety?
139
In this section you will find important information, tips and notes on the subject
of passive safety in your vehicle. We have combined everything here which you
should be familiar with, for example, regarding seat belts, airbags, child seats and safety of children. It is therefore important, in particular, to comply with the notes
and warnings in this section for your own interest and in the interest of those
travelling with you.
WARNING■ This chapter contains important information on how to use the vehicle for
the driver and his occupants. You will find further information on safety, which concerns you and those travelling with you, in the following chapters of this
Owner's Manual.■
The complete on-board literature should always be in the vehicle. This ap-
plies in particular, if you rent out or sell the vehicle.

Safety equipment
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 138.
The following list contains part of the safety equipment in your vehicle:
› three-point seat belts for all the seats;
› belt force limiters for the front seats;
›
belt tensioners for front seats;
› seat belt height adjusters for front seats;
› Front airbag for the driver and the front seat passenger;
› driver’s knee airbag;
› front side airbags;
› rear side airbags;
› head airbags;
› anchoring points for child seat using the ISOFIX system;
› anchoring points for child seat using the TOP TETHER system;
› head restraints adjustable for height;
› adjustable steering column.
The specified safety equipment works together, in order to optimally protect you
and those travelling with you in accident situations. The safety equipment does
not protect you or the people travelling with you, if you or your occupants adopt
an incorrect seated position or the equipment is not correctly adjusted or used. If
the seat belt is not fastened properly, this may result in injuries during an acci-
dent caused by the deployed airbag.

Before setting off
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 138.
For your own safety and the safety of the people travelling with you, please pay
attention to the following points before setting off.
› Ensure that the lighting and the turn signal system are functioning properly.
› Check the tyre inflation pressure.
› Ensure that all of the windows offer good visibility to the outside.
› Secure all items of luggage
» page 64, Boot .
› Ensure that no objects can obstruct the pedals.
› Adjust the mirrors, the front seat and head restraint to your body size.
› Advise your passengers to adjust the head restraints to their body size.
› Protect children in suitable child seats with correctly fastened seat
belts » page 154 , Transporting children safely .
› Adopt the correct seated position
» page 139, Correct seated position . Tell your
passengers to assume the correct seated position.
› Correctly fasten the seat belt. Also inform passengers to fasten the seat belt
correctly » page 142 , Seat belts .

138Safety

Airbag system
Description of the airbag system
Introductory information
The airbags inflate in fractions of a second and at a high speed to offer additional protection in the event of an accident.
The functional status of the airbag system is indicated by the indicator light  in
the instrument cluster » page 19.
The airbag system (according to vehicle equipment) consists of: › an electronic control unit;
› Front airbags for the driver and front seat passenger
» page 147;
› a driver’s knee airbag
» page 148;
› side airbags
» page 149;
› head airbags
» page 150;
› an airbag warning light in the instrument cluster
» page 19;
› a key switch for the front seat passenger airbag
» page 151;
› a warning light in the middle of the dash panel to indicate the front seat pas-
senger airbag is switched off » page 151.
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 139, 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.
WARNING (Continued)■ 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.

Airbag deployment
The airbag system is only functional when the ignition is switched on.
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.
In certain accident situations, the several airbags may be deployed simultaneous- ly.
The airbags are not deployed in the case of minor frontal and side collisions, rear-
end collisions, tilting of the vehicle and vehicle rollover.
Deployment factors
It is not possible to 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 
146Safety

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;
› driver’s knee airbag.
The following will be deployed in the event of a severe side collision: › front side airbag on the side of the accident;
› rear 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.
Front airbags
Fig. 131
Driver airbag in the steering wheel/front passenger airbag in the
dashboard
Fig. 132
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. 131 – 
.
The front airbag for the front seat passenger is located in the dash panel above
the stowage compartment 
– » Fig. 131 .
When the airbags are deployed, they inflate in front of the driver and front pas-
senger » Fig. 132 - 
. The forward movement of the driver and of the front pas-
senger is cushioned when they make contact with the fully inflated airbag and
the risk of injury to head and chest is thus reduced.
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. 132 . Not maintain-
ing this minimum distance will mean that the airbag system will not be able to
properly protect you – hazard! The front seats and the head restraints 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. 
147Airbag system

Side airbagsFig. 134
Installation location of the side airbags front/rear
Fig. 135
Inflated side airbags
In the event of severe side collisions, the side airbag system provides additional
protection for the upper body (chest, stomach and pelvis) of passengers in the ve-
hicle.
The front side airbags are housed in the upholstery of the seat backrests of the front seats » Fig. 134 - 
.
The rear side airbags are located between the entrance area and the seat back-
rest » Fig. 134 -
.
When the side airbags » Fig. 135 are deployed, the head airbag and belt tensioner
are also automatically deployed 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 entire 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 156, 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.
■
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 154, 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 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! 
149Airbag system

WARNING (Continued)■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.

Head airbags
Fig. 136
Location of the head airbag/gas-filled head airbag
In the event of a severe side collision, the head airbag system offers additional
protection for the head and neck area of passengers.
The head airbags are positioned above the doors on both sides in the interior ofthe car » Fig. 136 –
.
In the event of a side collision the head airbag is deployed together with the rele-
vant side airbag and the front seat belt tensioner on the side of the car on which
the accident occurs.
When deployed, the airbag covers the windows of the front and rear doors, as well as the door pillar » Fig. 136 – 
.
Any impact of the head against parts of the interior or objects outside of the car,
is cushioned by the inflated head airbag. The reduction in any impact to the head
and the resultant minimizing of any movements of the head additionally reduce
the risk of injuries to the neck area. The head airbag also offers additional protec-
tion in the case of an offset impact by covering the front door pillar.WARNING■ There must not be any objects in the deployment area of the head airbags
which might prevent the airbags from inflating properly.■
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. Additionally, clothes hangers must not be used to hang up items of cloth-
ing.
■
The airbag control unit operates with 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 anegative 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 specialist garage.
■
There must no other persons (e.g. children) or animals between the passen-
ger and the deployment area of the head airbag. In addition, none of the occu-
pants should lean their head out of the window when driving, or extend their
arms and hands out of the window.
■
The sun visors must not be swivelled towards the side windows in the de-
ployment area of the head airbags if any objects, such as ball-point pens, etc.
are attached to them. This might result in injuries to the occupants if the head
airbag is deployed.
■
The installation of impermissible accessories in the vicinity of the head air-
bags can considerably impair the protection offered by the head airbag in the
event of it being deployed. When the deployed head airbag is inflated, parts of
the fitted accessories could be thrown into the interior of the car and injure
the occupants » page 165.

150Safety

Deactivating 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 154, 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 151 , Deactivating the front passenger airbag .
We recommend that you ask a ŠKODA Partner to switch off any other airbags.
Monitoring the airbag system
The functionality of the airbag system is monitored electronically even if one of
the airbags is switched off.
If the airbag was switched off using diagnostic equipment:
› The warning light

lights up for approx. 4 seconds after switching on the igni-
tion and then flashes again for approx. 12 seconds.
The following applies if the front passenger airbag has been switched off using the key switch in the storage compartment:
› The indicator light

comes on for around 4 seconds after the ignition has been
switched on;
› The warning light


3
» Fig. 137 on page 151 comes on after the ignition has
been switched on.
Note
■ The national regulations for switching off airbags must be observed.■A ŠKODA Partner will be able to inform you which airbags in your vehicle can/
must be deactivated.

Deactivating the front passenger airbagFig. 137
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.
›
Use the key to turn the slot of the key switch into position
2
» Fig. 137 OFF .
›
Check whether the airbag indicator light
3

in the display 


 in the middle of the dash panel remains lit when the ignition is turned on.
Switching on
›
Switch off the ignition.
›
Use the key to turn the slot of the key switch into position
1
» Fig. 137 ON .
›
Close the storage box on the front passenger's side.
›
Check whether the airbag indicator light
3

in the display 



in the middle of the dash panel remains lit when the ignition is turned on.
The warning light 
goes out 65 seconds after the key switch status has changed
or after the ignition is switched on. 
151Airbag system