2012 SKODA OCTAVIA gearbox

Information system
Introductory information
The information system provides the driver with alerts and messages about indi-
vidual vehicle systems. These alerts and messages appear in the display of the in- strument cluster
2
» Fig. 2 on page 9.
The following is displayed in the information system:
› The outside temperature
» page 21;
› Recommended gear
» page 21;
› Door, boot lid and bonnet warning
» page 21;
› Eco tips
» page 21 ;
› Service Interval Display
» page 11;
› Auto Check Control
» page 12
› some warning lights
» page 12;
› Driving data
» page 22;
› Warning against excessive speeds
» page 24
› Data on the information display
» page 25;
› Traffic sign recognition
» page 25;
› Fatigue detection system
» page 27;
› Selector lever positions for an automatic gearbox
» page 130;
› Information and alerts in the Assist systems
» page 112.

Outside temperature
The current outside temperature is indicated in the display of the instrument cluster.
If the outside temperature drops below +4 °C while driving, a snow flake symbol
(warning signal for ice on the road) appears before the temperature indicator and
an audible signal will sound.
If the outside temperature is less than +4 °C when the ignition is turned on, a
snow flake symbol appears in the display and an acoustic signal sounds. After
pressing the rocker switch
A
or the adjustment wheel
D
» Fig. 3 on page 22,
the function shown last is indicated.
WARNINGEven at temperatures around +4 °C, black ice may still be on the road surface!
Do not only rely upon the information given on the outside temperature dis-
play that there is no ice on the road.

Recommended gear
In order to minimise the fuel consumption, a recommendation for shifting into an- other gear is indicated in the display.
Information about the currently-selected gear is shown in the upper part of the
display. When the system determines that a change in gear is required, the arrow
symbol 
and the recommended gear appears next to the current gear indication.
For instance, if 


appears in this display, this means it is recommended that
you shift from 3rd into 4th gear.
WARNINGThe driver is always responsible for selecting the correct gear in different driv-
ing situations, such as overtaking.

Door, boot lid and bonnet warning
If at least one door is open, or the boot or bonnet is open, the instrument cluster
display indicates the relevant open door or boot/bonnet.
An acoustic signal will also sound if you drive the vehicle above 6 km/h.

Eco tips
To minimise fuel consumption, fuel economy tips can appear in the display.
Eco tips are indicated next to the letters ECO-TIP.
For instance, if the air-condition is on and a window is open, the following mes- sage appears ECO TIP Air conditioning switched on: close windows.
Eco tips display must be activated in the Infotainment » operating instructions for
Infotainment , chapter Vehicle settings .

21Information system

Unlocking›Grab the door handle of the front door or cover the sensor 2 » Fig. 15 with the
whole palm of your hand » .
Locking
›
Touch the sensor
1
» Fig. 15 with your fingers.
Unlocking the boot lid
›
Press the handle of the boot lid » Fig. 19 on page 37.
Switching off the safelock system
›
Use your fingers to touch the sensor
1
twice within 2 seconds.
The vehicle can be unlocked when the key is in the unlocking zone.
Unlocking zones
Front door left
Front door right
Luggage compartment lid
If you cover the sensor
2
at the same time as the sensor
1
» Fig. 15 when un-
locking the vehicle, it is not unlocked.
If the vehicle is locked via the sensor
1
, it will not be possible to unlock it again
in the following 2 seconds via the sensor
2
- prevents accidental unlocking.
On vehicles fitted with automatic gearbox, the selector lever must be moved into the position P before unlocking.
The KESSY system can find the valid key, even if it was left in the front of the ve-
hicle's roof for example
D
» Fig. 15 . It is therefore not always necessary to know
where the key is.
Always check to see whether the vehicle is locked.
CAUTION
■ After leaving the vehicle, it does not lock automatically, the procedure for lock-
ing the vehicle must therefore be observed.■
Do not use gloves or other objects which might prevent direct contact between
the hand and the sensor.
Note
■ If the battery in the key is weak or discharged, the vehicle may not be unlocked
or locked via the KESSY system. In this case, use the emergency unlocking or emergency locking on the driver's door » page 36.ABCProtection against inadvertently locking the key in the vehicle
If the key which was used to lock the vehicle including the boot lid, remains in the
vehicle, the protection mechanism against inadvertently locking the key in the ve-
hicle is activated and the vehicle unlocks itself again D
» Fig. 15 on page 33.
The turn signal lights flash four times as confirmation that the vehicle has been
unlocked again.
The following message is displayed in the information display or display of the in-
strument cluster: Key in vehicle. or KEY IN VEHICLE .
Additionally, on vehicles which are fitted with the anti-theft alarm system, an au- dible signal sounds.

Information message
The functions of the KESSY system are monitored. In the presence of a fault, one of the following messages may appear.
› Key not found.
› Key not detected. Owner's manual!
› NO KEY
This message is displayed if you leave the engine on and no key is detected in the vehicle. The message is then displayed when the ignition is switched on or the
engine is running or when no key was found in the vehicle. This can occur if the
key is outside the vehicle, the battery in the key is discharged, the key is defec-
tive or the electromagnetic field is strongly disturbed. Some electronic devices,
e.g. mobile phones, can also cause faults.
› Keyless access system faulty.
› KEYLESS ACCESS SYSTEM FAULTY
Error in the KESSY system; seek help from a ŠKODA specialist garage.
› Change the key battery!
› KEY BATTERY PLEASE CHANGE
Low voltage of the remote control key battery, change the battery.

34Using the system

Ignition lockFig. 90
Positions of the vehicle key in
the ignition lock
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 92.
Petrol engines » Fig. 90
Ignition switched off, engine off, the steering can be locked
Ignition switched on Starting engine
Diesel engines » Fig. 90
Fuel supply interrupted, ignition switched off, engine switched off, the steer-
ing can be locked
Heating glow plugs on, ignition switched on
Starting engine
To lock the steering , with the ignition key withdrawn, turn the steering wheel
until the steering locking pin engages audibly.
If the steering is locked and the key cannot or can only be turned with difficulty
into the position
2
» Fig. 90 , move the steering wheel back and forth and the
steering lock will unlock.

Starting engine
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 92.
Vehicles with a diesel engine are equipped with a glow plug system. The glow
plug warning light 
comes on after the ignition has been switched on. Start the
engine just after the indicator light 
goes out.
123123You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heating pe-
riod otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
Procedure for starting the engine›
Before starting the engine, place the gearshift lever into neutral or place the se-
lector lever in the position P or N and firmly put on the handbrake.
›
Switch on the ignition
2
» Fig. 90 on page 94.
›
Depress and hold the clutch pedal (vehicles with a manual gearbox) or brake
pedal (vehicles with an automatic gearbox) until the engine starts.
›
Turn the key into position
3
as far as it will go and release immediately- do not
touch the accelerator.
After letting go, the vehicle key will return to position
2
.
›
If the engine does not start within 10 seconds, turn the key to position
1
. Re-
peat the start-up process after approx. half a minute.
›
Release the handbrake before starting off.
The engine will not start if the engine is started without the clutch pedal (vehi- cles with a manual gearbox) or brake pedal (vehicles with an automatic gearbox)
being depressed.
The following message is shown in the information cluster display:
Press the clutch to start. or Apply the break to start. at the same time the indica-
tor light lights up 
.
or
PRESS CLUTCH or APPLY BRAKE at the same time the indicator light lights up 
.

Switching the engine off
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 92.
Switch off the engine by turning the ignition key into position
1
» Fig. 90 on
page 94.

94Using the system

Switching on the ignitionFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 95.
The steering must be unlocked to switch on the ignition.
›
Briefly press the starter button » Fig. 91 on page 95 and the ignition is switched
on.
If the ignition is switched on and the driver's door is opened, the following mes-
sage appears in the instrument cluster display:
Ignition on!
or IGNITION STILL ON

Switching off the ignition
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 95.
›
Briefly press the starter button » Fig. 91 on page 95 and the ignition is switched
off.
The ignition can be switched off up to a speed of 2 km/h.
On vehicles fitted with a manual gearbox, the clutch pedal must not be depressed after switching off the ignition otherwise the system would try to start.
On vehicles fitted with an automatic gearbox, the selector lever must be in theposition P or N and the brake pedal must not be depressed.

Emergency ignition shutoff system
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 95.
In an emergency, it is possible to switch off the ignition even at speeds greater than 2 km/h, by using the "emergency ignition shutoff system".
›
Press the starter button » Fig. 91 on page 95 for longer than 1 second or twice
within 1 second.

Starting engine
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 95.
Maintain the clutch pedal depressed when starting vehicles fitted with a manualgearbox. On vehicles with an automatic gearbox, place the selector lever in posi-
tion P or N and depress the brake pedal until the engine starts.
The engine will not start if the engine is started without the clutch pedal (vehi- cles with a manual gearbox) or brake pedal (vehicles with an automatic gearbox) being depressed.
The following message is shown in the information cluster display: Press the clutch to start. or Apply the break to start. at the same time the indica-
tor light lights up 
.
or
PRESS CLUTCH or APPLY BRAKE at the same time the indicator light lights up 
.
Petrol engines
›
Briefly press the starter button » Fig. 91 on page 95 - the engine fires up.
Diesel engines
›
Briefly press the starter button - the engine starts after the indicator light 
goes out.
The diesel engine can also be started by pressing the starter button, the ignition
is switched on and the glow plug warning light 
illuminates. Wait until the glow
plug warning light goes out and then press and hold the starter button until the
engine starts.

96Using the system

WARNING■Greater physical effort for braking is required when the engine is switched
off – risk of accident!■
During the braking procedure on a vehicle with manual transmission, when
the vehicle is in gear and at low revs, press the clutch pedal. 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. The front
brakes may overheat which can have a negative impact on the functioning of
the braking system - risk of accident!
CAUTION
■ Observe the recommendations on the new brake pads » page 100.■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.
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.

HandbrakeFig. 93
Centre console: Handbrake
Apply
›
Pull the handbrake lever firmly upwards.
Loosening
›
Pull the handbrake lever up slightly and at the same time push in the locking
button » Fig. 93 .
›
Move the lever right down while pressing the lock button.
The handbrake warning light 
lights up when the handbrake is applied, provided
the ignition is on.
A warning signal sounds if the vehicle is inadvertently driven off with the hand-
brake applied.
The following message is shown in the information cluster display:
Release the parking brake!
or
PARKING BRAKE ON PLEASE RELEASE
The handbrake warning is activated if the vehicle is driven at a speed of more than around 5 km/h for more than 3 seconds.
WARNING■ Please note that the handbrake must be fully released. A handbrake which
is only partially released can result in the rear brakes overheating. This 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!

98Using the system

ShiftingFig. 94
Gearshift pattern of 5 gear or
6 gear manual gearbox
Always depress the clutch pedal all the way down. This prevents uneven wear on the clutch.
Observe the recommended gear » page 21.
Only engage reverse gear when the vehicle is stationary. Depress the clutch pedal
and hold it fully depressed. Wait a moment before reverse gear is engaged to avoid any shift noises.
The reversing lights will come on once reverse gear is engaged, provided the igni- tion is on.
WARNINGNever engage reverse gear when driving – risk of accident!
Note
If not in the process of changing gear, do not leave your hand on the gearshift
lever while driving. The pressure from the hand can cause the gearshift mecha-
nism to wear excessively.
Pedals
The operation of the pedals must not be hindered under any circumstances! In the driver's footwell, only a footmat, which is attached to the two correspond-
ing attachment points, may be used.
Only use footmats from the range of ŠKODA Original Accessories, which are fitted to two attachment points.WARNINGNo objects are allowed in the driver's footwell – risk of obstruction or limita-
tion in operating the pedal!

99Starting-off and Driving

Driving and the Environment
Running in
New engine
The engine has to be run in during the first 1 500 kilometres.
Up to 1 000 kilometres
›
Do not drive faster than 3/4 of the maximum speed of the gear in use, i.e. 3/4 of
the maximum permissible engine speed.
›
No full throttle.
›
Avoid high engine speeds.
›
Do not tow a trailer.
From 1 000 up to 1 500 kilometres
Gradually increase the power output of the engine up to the full speed of the
gear engaged, i.e. up to the maximum permissible engine speed.
During the first operating hours the engine has higher internal friction than lateruntil all of the moving parts have harmonized. The driving style which you adopt
during the first approx.1 500 kilometres plays a decisive part in the success of running in your car.
Never drive at unnecessarily high engine speeds even after the running-in period
is complete. The maximum permissible engine speed is marked by the start of the red scale area of the revolutions counter.
On vehicles fitted with a manual gearbox, at the very latest shift up into the nextgear when the red area is reached. Very high engine speeds when accelerating
(accelerator) are automatically restricted »
.
If the engine is no longer running smoothly, do not drive with unnecessarily low
engine revs on a vehicle with manual transmission. Shift down. Observe the rec-
ommended gear » page 21.
CAUTION■
The engine is not protected from excessive engine revs caused by shifting
down at the wrong time. This can result in the sudden increase in revs beyond
the permissible maximum rpm and thus cause engine damage.■
Never rev up a cold engine when the vehicle is stationary or when driving in in-
dividual gears.
■
All the speed and engine revolution figures apply only when the engine is at its
normal operating temperature.
For the sake of the environment
Never drive with unnecessarily high engine revs. Shifting up sooner helps save on
fuel, reduces engine noises and protects the environment.
New tyres
New tyres have to be “run in” since they do not offer optimal grip at first. Drive
especially carefully for the first 500 km or so.

New brake pads
New brake pads initially do not provide optimal braking performance. They first need to be “run in”. Drive especially carefully for the first 200 km or so.

Catalytic converter
Proper operation of the emission control system (catalytic converter) is of major
significance for driving your vehicle in an environmentally conscious way.
› Vehicles fitted with a petrol engine must always be refuelled with unleaded
petrol » page 168 .
› Do not pour too much oil into the engine
» page 172, Checking the engine oil
level .
› Do not switch off the ignition while you are driving the vehicle.
If you drive your vehicle in a country in which unleaded petrol is not available, you must have the catalytic converter replaced later when driving the vehicle into a
country in which use of a catalytic converter is mandatory. 
100Using the system

WARNING■In view of the high temperatures which can be produced in the catalytic con-
verter, the vehicle should be parked in such a way that the catalytic converter
cannot come into contact with easily flammable materials under the vehicle –
risk of fire!■
Never use additional underbody protection or anti-corrosion agents for ex-
haust pipes, catalytic converters or heat shields – risk of fire!
CAUTION
■ Never drive until the fuel tank is completely empty! The irregular supply of fuel
can cause misfiring, which can result in considerable damage to parts of the en-
gine and exhaust system.■
Just filling the tank with leaded petrol once will damage the exhaust system!

Economical and environmentally friendly driving
Introductory information
The technical requirements for low fuel usage and economic efficiency of the ve- hicle have already been built into the vehicle at the works. ŠKODA places a partic-
ular emphasis on minimising negative effects on the environment.
It is necessary to take note of the guidelines given in this chapter in order to
make best use of these characteristics and to maintain their effectiveness.
Your fuel consumption, any pollution of the environmental and the wear-and-tear
to the engine, brakes and tyres, depend essentially on three factors:
› your personal style of driving;
› the conditions under which your vehicle is operated;
› technical aspects.
The fuel economy by can be improved by 10 -15 % by always looking ahead and
driving in an economical way.
Fuel consumption is also be influenced by external factors which are beyond the
driver's control. Consumption increases during the winter or under difficult condi-
tions, on poor roads, etc.
Fuel consumption can vary considerably from the manufacturer's data, as a result
of outside temperatures, the weather and driving style.
The optimal engine speed should be obtained when accelerating, in order to
avoid a high fuel consumption and resonance of the vehicle.
Looking ahead when driving
A vehicle's highest fuel consumption occurs when accelerating, therefore unnec-
essary accelerating and braking should be avoided. If looking ahead when driving, less braking and consequently less accelerating are required.
If possible, let your vehicle coast to a stop, or use the engine brake, if you can see that the next set of traffic lights is on red, for example.

Shifting to save energy
Fig. 95
Principle sketch: Fuel consump-
tion in litres/100 km depending
on the selected gear
Shifting up early saves on fuel.
Manual gearbox › Drive no more than about one length of your vehicle in first gear.
› Shift up into the next gear at approx. 2 000 revolutions.
An effective way of achieving good fuel economy is to shift up early. Observe the
recommended gear » page 21.
A suitably selected gear can have an effect on fuel consumption » Fig. 95.
Automatic gearbox › Slowly
apply the accelerator pedal. However, do not depress it to the kickdown
position.
› If the accelerator pedal is only depressed slowly on a vehicle fitted with an au-
tomatic gearbox, an economic driving programme is automatically selected.

101Driving and the Environment