2013 SKODA OCTAVIA Owner's Manual

Front interior lightFig. 34
Switch for front interior light - 2 versions
Fig. 35
Switch for reading lights - 2 versions
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 61.
Rocker switch positions » Fig. 34 .
switching on
switching off
Operation using the door contact switch (middle position)
For vehicles with interior monitoring there is no icon for the center position (oper-
ation with the door contact switch) » Fig. 34 - 
.
Reading lights Switch the reading light on/off » Fig. 35
If light operation with the door contact switch is enabled, the light will come on
when one of the following events occurs:
› The vehicle is unlocked.
› One of the doors or the luggage compartment lid is being opened.
› The ignition key is removed.
If light operation with the door contact switch is enabled, the light will go off
when one of the following events occurs:
› The vehicle is locked.
› The ignition is switched on.
› About 30 seconds after all the doors have been closed.
Note
■
If the interior light remains switched on when the ignition is switched off or if
one of the doors is open, the light will automatically go out after around 10 mi- nutes.■
Two diffuse lights are integrated in the front interior lighting, that illuminate
the gearshift lever and the middle of the dash panel. These are switched on auto-
matically when the parking light is activated. Also, after switching on the ignition when the parking lights are switched on, the door handle lighting comes on.

Rear interior light
Applies to vehicles without a panoramic sliding roof.
Fig. 36
Interior light without reading lights/interior light with reading lights
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 61.
The rear interior light is operated together with the front interior light » page 62.
62Using the system

Switching lamp without reading lights on/off›Press the button » Fig. 36 -  .
Switching the reading light on/off›
Press the button  or
 » Fig. 36 -  .

Rear interior light
Applies to vehicles with a panoramic sliding roof.
Fig. 37
Interior lights at the rear
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 61.
The light can be operated by moving the lens into one of the following posi-
tions » Fig. 37 .
switching on
switching off
Operation using the door contact switch (middle position) 1)

Front door warning lightFig. 38
Warning light
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 61.
The warning light is located in the lower door trim panel
» Fig. 38.
The light switches on/off when the front door is opened or closed.
Vehicles without this warning light have only a reflector at this point.
Note
If the door is open and the ignition switched off, the light will extinguish auto-
matically after around 10 minutes.
Entry space lighting
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 61.
The lighting is positioned on the bottom edge of the exterior mirror and illumi-
nates the entry area of the front door.
The light comes on after the vehicle has been unlocked or on opening the front
door. The lighting goes out about 30 seconds after the doors are closed or if the
ignition is switched on. 

1)
In this position, the same rules apply to this light as for the front interior light
» page 62.
63Lights and visibility

WARNINGIf the entry light is on, do not touch its cover – risk of burns!
Note
If the door is open and the ignition switched off, the light will extinguish auto-
matically after around 10 minutes.
Visibility
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Windscreen and rear window heater
64
Sun visors
65
Sun screen
65
Windscreen and rear window heater
Fig. 39
Buttons for the front and rear window heater/manual air-condition-
ing system, heating
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 64.
Explanation of graphic » Fig. 39 .
Switching the windscreen heater on/off
Switch the rear window heater on/off
When the heater is switched on, a lamp lights up inside or below the button.
The windscreen and rear window heater only operates when the engine is run-
ning.
The windscreen and rear window heater automatically switches off after approxi-
mately 10 minutes.
For the sake of the environment
The heating should be switched off as soon as the window is de-iced or free from
mist. The reduced current consumption will have a favourable effect on fuel econ-
omy » page 134 , Saving electrical energy .
Note
■
If the on-board voltage drops, the windscreen and rear window heater switches
off automatically, to provide sufficient electrical energy for the engine con- trol » page 227 , Automatic load deactivation .■
If the light within or below the button flashes, the radiator will not work be-
cause of the low state of the battery.

64Using the system

Sun visorsFig. 40
Sun visor: left/right
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 64.
The sun visor for the driver or front passenger can be pulled out of the fixture and
swivelled towards the door in the direction of arrow
1
» Fig. 40 .
The sun visors each have a vanity mirror
B
with a cover. Push the cover in the
direction of the arrow
2
.
The purpose of the note holder
B
is to store small objects, such as a notepad,
etc.
WARNINGThe sun visors must not be swivelled towards the side windows in the deploy-
ment 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 air-
bag is deployed.

Sun screenFig. 41
Sun screen
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 64.
The sun screen is located in a housing on the luggage compartment cover.
Extending
›
Pull the sun screen on the handle
B
» Fig. 41 and hang it in the holder
A
.
Retracting
›
Remove the sun screen from the holders
A
and hold it on the handle
B
» Fig. 41 so that it can slowly roll up into the housing on the boot cover with-
out being damaged.

Windscreen wipers and washers
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Windscreen wipers and washers
66
Headlight cleaning system
67
The windscreen wipers and the wash system only operate if the ignition is
switched on and the bonnet is closed.
If the intermittent wipe is switched on, the intervals are also controlled depend-
ing on speed.
When automatic wiping in rain is active, the wiper intervals are regulated based
on the intensity of the rain. 
65Lights and visibility

The rear window is wiped once automatically if the windscreen wipers are onwhen reverse gear is selected.
Automatic rear window wiping can be activated or deactivated in the Infotain-
ment » Operating instructions for Infotainment , chapter Vehicle settings (CAR
button) .
Top up with windscreen wiper fluid » page 218.WARNING■
Properly maintained windscreen wiper blades are essential for clear visibility
and safe driving » page 250.■
Replace the windscreen wiper blades once or twice a year for safety rea-
sons. These can be purchased from a ŠKODA Partner.
■
Do not use the windscreen washer system at low temperatures, without
heating the windscreen beforehand. Otherwise the window cleaner could
freeze on the windscreen and restrict the view to the front.
■
Automatic wiping in rain only operates as a support. The driver is not re-
leased from the responsibility to set the function of the windscreen wipers
manually depending on the visibility conditions.
CAUTION
■ In cold temperatures and during the winter, check before the journey or before
switching on the ignition that the wiper blades are not frozen to the windscreen. If the windscreen wipers are switched on when the blades are frozen to the
windscreen, this may damage both the blades and windscreen wiper motor!■
If the ignition is switched off while the windscreen wipers are switched on, the
windscreen wipers will continue wiping in the same mode after the ignition is
turned back on. The windscreen wipers could freeze up in cold temperatures be- tween the time the ignition was turned off and when it was turned back on again.
■
Carefully detach frozen wiper blades from the front or rear window.
■
Remove snow and ice from the windscreen wipers before driving.
■
If the windscreen wipers are handled carelessly, there is a risk of damage to the
windscreen.
■
Do not switch on the ignition if the front wiper arms are retracted. The wiper
blades would move back into their rest position and while doing so damage the
paintwork of the bonnet.
■
If there is an obstacle on the windscreen, the wiper will try to push away the
obstacle. The wiper stops automatically after 5 attempts to eliminate the obsta-
cle, in order to avoid a damage to the wiper. Remove the the obstacle and switch
the wiper on again.
Note■ Each time the ignition switches off for the third time, the position of the wind-
screen wipers changes. This counteracts an early fatigue of the wiper rubbers.■
The rear window wiper only operates if the boot lid is closed.
■
Keep the wiper blades clean. They may become soiled, e.g., with wax residues
after washing in automatic car wash systems » page 204.
■
The windscreen washer nozzles for the windscreen are heated when the en-
gine is running and the outside temperature is less than approx. +10 °C.

Windscreen wipers and washers
Fig. 42
Operating lever: Windscreen
wipers and washer settings
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 65.
Operating lever positions » Fig. 42 .
Wipers off
Periodic windscreen wiping/automatic wiping in rain
slow windscreen wiping
rapid windscreen wiping
Flick windscreen wiping, service position of the wiper arms » page 250,
(spring-loaded position)
Automatic wipe/wash for windscreen (spring-tensioned position)
Wiping the rear window pane (the windscreen wiper wipes at regular inter- vals after a few seconds)
Automatic wipe/wash for the rear window (spring-tensioned position)
Switches for setting the required break between the individual wiper strokes
(
1
periodic windscreen wiping) or the wiper speed in rain (
1
automatic
windscreen wiping in rain) 
01234567A66Using the system

Automatic windscreen wiping in rain
Automatic windscreen wiping in rain can be activated or deactivated in the Info-
tainment » Operating instructions for Infotainment , chapter Vehicle settings (CAR
button) .
Automatic wipe/wash for windscreen
The wash system operates immediately, the windscreen wipers wipe somewhat
later. The wash system and the windscreen wiper operate simultaneously at a
speed of more than 120 km/h.
Letting go of the operating lever will cause the windscreen wash system to stop and the wipers to continue for another 2-3 wiper strokes (depending on the spraying duration).
At a speed of more than 2 km/h, the wiper wipes once again 5 seconds after the last wiper stroke in order to wipe the last drops from the windscreen. This func-
tion can be activated/deactivated by a specialist garage.
Automatic wipe/wash for the rear windowThe wash system operates immediately, the windscreen wiper wipes somewhat
later.
Letting go of the operating lever will cause the windscreen wash system to stop and the wiper to continue for another 2-3 wiper strokes (depending on the spray-
ing duration). The operating lever remains in position 6
.
Automatic rear window wipe (Octavia Estate)
If the lever is in position
2
or
3
» Fig. 42 , the rear window is wiped every
30 or 10 seconds if the vehicle's speed exceeds 5 km/h.
If automatic windscreen wiping in rain is activated (the operating lever is in the
position
1
) the function is only active if the windscreen wipers operate in contin-
uous mode (no break between each wiping process).
Automatic rear window wiping can be activated or deactivated in the Infotain-
ment » Operating instructions for Infotainment , chapter Vehicle settings (CAR
button) .
Winter setting of the windscreen wiper If the windscreen wipers are in rest position, they cannot be folded out from thewindscreen. For this reason we recommend adjusting the windscreen wipers in
winter so that they can be folded out from the windscreen easily.
› Switch on the windscreen wipers.
› Switch off the ignition.
The windscreen wipers remain in the position in which they were when switching
off the ignition.
The service position can also be used as a winter position » page 250
.
Note
If the slow or the fast wiper setting is switched on and the vehicle speed decrea-
ses to below 4 km/h, the wiper speed is incrementally set to a lower wiper speed.
The original setting is restored step by step when the speed of the vehicle ex-
ceeds 8 km/h.
Headlight cleaning system
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 65.
The headlights will be cleaned once the ignition is on and always upon the first and after every tenth spraying of the windscreen, when the low beam is switched
on.
Each time the headlamps are cleaned each lamp is sprayed twice. You should remove stubborn dirt (such as insect residues) from the headlight len-
ses at regular intervals, for example when refuelling. The following guidelines
must be observed » page 207, Headlight lenses .
To ensure the proper operation of the cleaning system during the winter, any
snow should be removed from the washer nozzle fixtures and ice should be
cleared with a de-icing spray.
CAUTION
Never remove the nozzles from the headlight cleaning system by hand – risk of
damage!
Note
The headlamp cleaning system works with an ambient temperature of about -12 °
C to + 39 ° C.
67Lights and visibility

Rear mirror
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Interior mirror
69
Exterior mirrors
69WARNING■ Make sure that the mirror is not covered by ice, snow, mist or other objects.■Convex (curved outward) or aspheric exterior mirrors increase the field of vi-
sion. They do, however, make objects appear smaller in the mirror. These mir-
rors are therefore only of limited use for estimating distances to the following
vehicles.■
Whenever possible use the interior mirror for estimating the distances to
the following vehicles.
■
The illuminated display of an external navigation unit can lead to operation-
al faults to the automatic dimming interior mirror – risk of accident.
WARNINGAutomatic dimming mirrors contain an electrolytic fluid which may leak should
the mirror glass break.■
The leaking electrolytic fluid can irritate the skin, eyes and breath apparatus.
Immediately seek out fresh air and leave the vehicle. If this is not possible,
open all windows and doors.
■
If you swallow electrolytic fluid, seek medical assistance immediately.
■
If your eyes or skin come into contact with the electrolytic fluid, immediately
wash the affected area for a few minutes long with a lot of water. Then con-
sult a doctor immediately.
CAUTION
Never mechanically fold in or fold back the exterior mirrors with the fold-in func-
tion  by hand as this will damage the electric drive.Note■
Automatic mirror dimming operates only properly if the sun screen for the rear
window in the housing on the boot cover is not in use or the light striking the in- terior rear-view mirror is not affected by other objects.■
If the automatic interior mirror dimming is switched off, the exterior mirror dim-
ming is also switched off.
■
The mirror heater only operates when the engine is running and up to an out-
side temperature of +35 ℃.
■
Do not touch the surface of the exterior mirrors if the exterior mirror heater is
switched on.
■
If the electrical exterior mirror setting fails at any time, the mirrors can be adjus-
ted by hand by pressing on the edge of the mirror surface.
■
Contact a specialist garage if there is a fault with the power setting function for
the exterior mirrors.

68Using the system

Interior mirrorFig. 43
Manual dimming mirror
Fig. 44
Automatic dimming mirror
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 68.
Manual dimming interior mirror
›
To dim the mirror set the lever on the rear view mirror in the direction of the
front wheel - arrow
A
» Fig. 43 .
›
To restore the original position, adjust the lever on the rear view mirror in the
direction of the front wheel off - arrow
B.
Automatic dimming mirror
›
To activate the auto-dimming, press button
D
» Fig. 44 .
The warning light
C
illuminates.
›
To disable auto-dimming, press button
D
» Fig. 44 again.
The warning light
C
goes out.
If automatic dimming is activated, the mirror dims automatically depending on
the light striking the mirror from the rear.
When the interior lights are switched on or the reverse gear is engaged, the mir- ror always moves back into the basic position (not dimmed).
Do not attach external navigation devices on to the windscreen or in the vicinity
of the automatic dimming interior mirror » page 68,
in section Introduction .

Exterior mirrors
Fig. 45
Front door: Knob for the mirrors
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 68.
The mirror can be adjusted to the desired position by moving the knob in the di-
rection of the arrow » Fig. 45.
The movement of the mirror surface is identical to the movement of the rotary knob.
The knob can be moved into the following positions.
adjust the left mirror or both mirrors
adjust right mirror or both mirrors
Switch off mirror control
Mirror heater
Folding in the exterior mirrors
Adjusting both mirrors in sync
After the rotary knob to position  or in right-hand drive in the position
 provided,
both mirrors may be adjusted simultaneously. 
69Lights and visibility