2014 SKODA OCTAVIA Owner's Manual

Driving
Starting-off and Driving
Starting and stopping the engine using the key
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Electronic immobilizer
126
Lock steering lock / unlock
126
Turning ignition on/off and starting the engine
127
Stopping the engine
127
With the key in the ignition, the ignition can be switched on and off and the
engine can be started / stopped.
WARNING■ While driving with the engine stopped, the ignition must always be
switched on » page 127, Turning ignition on/off and starting the engine .
■ With the ignition off, the steering may lock » page 126 - danger of an
accident!■
Do not withdraw the ignition key from the ignition lock until the vehicle
has come to a stop » page 132, Parking . Otherwise the steering wheel
could block – risk of accident!
■
Never leave the key in the vehicle when you exit the vehicle. Unauthor-
ized persons, such as children, for example, could lock the car, turn on the
ignition or start the engine - there is a danger of injury and accidents!
■
Never leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running - there is
risk of accident, damage or theft!
■
Never switch off the engine before the vehicle is stationary – risk of acci-
dent!
WARNING■ Never (e.g. in garages) run the engine in a closed place - there is the dan-
ger of poisoning and death!■
Do not leave any items (e.g. cloths or tools) in the engine compartment.
This presents a fire hazard and the risk of engine damage.
■
Never cover the engine with additional insulation material (e.g. with a
blanket) – risk of fire!
CAUTION■ Only start the engine when the engine and the vehicle are stationary - there
is a danger of starter and engine damage!■
Do not push-start the engine – there is a risk of damaging the engine and
the catalytic converter. The battery from another vehicle can be used as a
jump-start aid » page 220.
Note
Do not warm up the engine while the vehicle is stationary. If possible, start
your journey as soon as the engine has started. Through this, the engine rea-
ches its operating temperature faster.
Electronic immobilizer
Read and observe
and on page 126 first.
The electronic immobilizer makes a possible attempted theft or unauthorizeduse of your vehicle more difficult.
An electronic chip is integrated in the head of the key. The immobiliser is deac-
tivated with the aid of this chip when the key is inserted in the ignition lock.
The electronic immobiliser is automatically activated when the ignition key is
withdrawn from the lock.
The engine will not start if a non-authorized ignition key is used.
The following message is shown in the information cluster display. Immobilizer active.
IMMOBILIZER ACTIVE
Lock steering lock / unlock
Read and observe
and on page 126 first.
The steering lock (steering lock) deters any attempted theft of your vehicle.
Locking
›
Withdraw the ignition key.
›
Turn the steering wheel to the left or right until the steering lock clicks into
place.
Unlocking
›
Insert the key into the ignition lock.
›
Switch on the ignition » page 127. 
126Driving

The vehicle is unlocked.
If the ignition switch can not be turned on, then turn the steering wheel back
and forth slightly and thereby unlock the steering lock.
Turning ignition on/off and starting the engine
Fig. 129
Positions of the vehicle key in the ignition lock
Read and observe and on page 126 first.
Positions of the vehicle key in the ignition lock » Fig. 129
Ignition switched off, engine switched off
Ignition switched on
Starting engine
Switching ignition on/off
›
Turn key to position
2
.
The ignition is switched on.
›
Turn key to position
1
.
The ignition is switched off.
Procedure for starting the engine
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
For vehicles with manual transmission , shift gear stick to neutral, depress
the clutch pedal and hold it there until the engine starts.
›
On vehicles with automatic transmission , place the selector lever in position
P or N and depress the brake pedal until the engine starts.
›
Turn the key into position
3
as far as it will go - the engine's starting proce-
dure will commence (do not touch the accelerator).
›
Release the key, the engine will start automatically.
After letting go, the vehicle key will return to position
2
.
123If 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.
For vehicles with diesel engines, the glow plug warning light 
goes on dur-
ing starting. The engine starts after the indicator light goes out.
Vehicles with manual transmission
The engine will not start if the clutch pedal is not depressed.
The following message is shown in the information cluster display. Press the clutch to start.
PRESS CLUTCH
Vehicles with automatic transmission
The engine will not start if the brake pedal is not depressed.
The following message is shown in the information cluster display. Depress the brake to start.
APPLY BRAKE
Note
■ The engine running noises may louder at first be louder for a short time after
starting the cold engine. This is quite normal and is not an operating problem.■
You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heat-
ing period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
Stopping the engine
Read and observe
and on page 126 first.
›
Stop the vehicle » page 132, Parking .
›
Turn key to position
1
» Fig. 129 on page 127 .
The engine and the ignition are switched off simultaneously.
For vehicles with automatic transmission, the ignition key can only be removed if the selector lever is in position P .
CAUTION
Do not switch the engine off immediately at the end of your journey after the
engine has been operated over a prolonged period at high loads but leave it to
run at an idling speed for about 1 minute. This prevents any possible accumula-
tion of heat when the engine is switched off. 127Starting-off and Driving

NoteAfter switching off the ignition, the radiator fan may intermittently continue to
operate for approx. 10 minutes.
Starting or stopping the engine by pressing button
 Introduction
Fig. 130
Starter button ( 


)
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Locking/unlocking the steering lock
128
Switching ignition on / off
129
Starting the engine
129
Switching off the engine
129
Problems starting the engine
130
The ignition can be switched on and off and the engine can be started/stop-
ped with the starter button » Fig. 130.
The key must be in the vehicle in order to unlock the steering wheel, switch on the ignition, start the engine and drive.
WARNING■ Never leave the key in the vehicle when you exit the vehicle. Unauthor-
ized persons, such as children, for example, could lock the car, turn on the
ignition or start the engine - there is a danger of injury and accidents!■
Never leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running - there is a
risk of theft etc!
■
Never switch off the engine before the vehicle is stationary – risk of acci-
dent!
WARNINGNever (e.g. in garages) run the engine in a closed place - there is the danger
of poisoning and death!
CAUTION
■ The system can recognize the valid key, even if it has been accidentally left
on the vehicle roof - there is danger of loss or damage to the key!■
Only start the engine when the engine and the vehicle are stationary - there
is a danger of starter and engine damage!
■
Do not push-start the engine – there is a risk of damaging the engine and
the catalytic converter. The battery from another vehicle can be used as a
jump-start aid » page 220.
Note
■
Do not warm up the engine while the vehicle is stationary. If possible, start
your journey as soon as the engine has started. Through this, the engine rea-
ches its operating temperature faster.■
The system is protected against inadvertently switching off the engine while
driving, this means that the engine can only be switched off in an emergen-
cy » page 129 .
Locking/unlocking the steering lock
Read and observe
and on page 128 first.
The steering lock (steering lock) deters any attempted theft of your vehicle.
Locking
›
Switch off the engine.
›
Open the driver door.
The steering lock is locked automatically.
If the driver's door is opened and the ignition is switched off afterwards, the
steering is only locked after the vehicle has been locked.
Unlocking
›
Open the driver's door and get into the vehicle.
›
Close the driver's door.
The steering is locked automatically. 
128Driving

Under certain circumstances (e.g. after switching off the ignition and opening
the driver's door), the steering is enabled only when the ignition is switched on
or the engine is started.WARNINGNever let the vehicle roll with locked steering lock - there is a risk of acci-
dent!
Switching ignition on / off
Read and observe
and on page 128 first.
›
Press the button » Fig. 130 on page 128 briefly.
The ignition is switched on or off.
On vehicles fitted with a manual gearbox, the clutch pedal must not be de-
pressed while switching the ignition on or off, otherwise the system would try
to start.
On vehicles fitted with a automatic gearbox, the brake pedal must not be de-
pressed while switching the ignition on or off, otherwise the system would try
to start.
If the driver's door is opened while the igition is on, an audible signal sounds
and the following message appears in the instrument cluster display.
Ignition on!
IGNITION STILL ON
When leaving the vehicle always switch off the ignition.
Starting the engine
Read and observe
and on page 128 first.
Procedure for starting the engine
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
For vehicles with manual transmission , shift gear stick to neutral, depress
the clutch pedal and hold it there until the engine starts.
›
On vehicles with automatic transmission , place the selector lever in position
P or N and depress the brake pedal until the engine starts.
›
Press the starter button » Fig. 130 on page 128 briefly – the engine starts au-
tomatically.
In vehicles with diesel engines after pressing the button, the glow plug warn-
ing light  lights up. The engine can be started after the indicator light goes
out.
Note
■ The engine running noises may louder at first be louder for a short time after
starting the cold engine. This is quite normal and is not an operating problem.■
You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heat-
ing period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
Switching off the engine
Read and observe
and on page 128 first.
Switching off
›
Stop the vehicle » page 132, Parking .
›
Press the button » Fig. 130 on page 128 briefly.
The engine and the ignition are switched off simultaneously.
Emergency shutdown
If necessary, the engine in exceptional cases may also be turned off while driv-
ing.
›
Press the starter button » Fig. 130 on page 128 for longer than 1 second or
twice within 1 second.
After the emergency stop of the engine, the steering lock will remain un-
locked.
CAUTION
Do not switch the engine off immediately at the end of your journey after the
engine has been operated over a prolonged period at high loads but leave it to
run at an idling speed for about 1 minute. This prevents any possible accumula-
tion of heat when the engine is switched off.
Note
After switching off the ignition, the radiator fan may intermittently continue to
operate for approx. 10 minutes.129Starting-off and Driving

Problems starting the engineFig. 131
Starting the engine - press the
button with the key
Read and observe and on page 128 first.
The key in the vehicle cannot be verified
If the key in the vehicle cannot be verified, then engine cannot be started by pressing a button.
The following message is shown in the information cluster display. Key not detected. Owner's manual!
Key not found.
NO KEY
The reasons for this may be:
› The battery in the key is almost out of charge.
› The key is malfunctioning
› There is interference in the signal between the system and the key (strong
electromagnetic field).
Try to start the engine by pressing the button with the key » Fig. 131.
System fault
If the following message appears on the display of the instrument cluster,
there is a system malfunction.
Keyless access system faulty.
KEYLESS ACCESS SYSTEM FAULTY
Try to start the engine by pressing the button with the key » Fig. 131.
CAUTION
The key can only be verified if it is in the vehicle. It is therefore not always nec-
essary to know where the key is.Note■ When attempting to start, the key bit must be pointed towards the but-
ton » Fig. 131 .■
If the engine fails to start after pressing the button with the key, seek spe-
cialist help.
Brakes and parking
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Information on braking
130
Handbrake
131
Parking
132WARNING■ Greater physical effort for braking is required when the engine is switch-
ed 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. Other-
wise, the functionality of the brake system may be impaired – risk of acci-
dent!
■
When leaving the vehicle, never leave persons who might, for example,
release the handbrake or take the vehicle out of gear unattended in the ve-
hicle. The vehicle might then move off – risk of accident!
■
Observe the recommendations on the new brake pads » page 136, New
brake pads .
CAUTION
Never let the brakes slip with light pressure on the pedal if braking is not nec-
essary. This causes the brakes to overheat and can also result in a longer brak-
ing distance and excessive wear.
Information on braking
Read and observe
and on page 130 first.
Wear-and-tear
The wear of the brake pads is dependent on the operating conditions and driv-
ing style. 
130Driving

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 specialist garage between service appointments as well.
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. The brakes are cleaned and dried by applying the brakes several
times »
.
Long or steep slopes
Before travelling a long distance with a steep gradient, reduce speed and shift
into the next lowest gear. As a result, the braking effect of the engine will be
used, reducing the load on the brakes. Any additional braking should be com-
pleted intermittently, not continuously.
Emergency brake display
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 stop-
ped, the brake light stops flashing and the hazard warning light system
switches on. The hazard warning light system is switched off automatically af- ter accelerating or driving off again.
Faults in the brake surface
If it is found that the braking distance has suddenly become longer and that
the brake pedal can be depressed further, the brake system may be faulty.
Visit a specialist garage immediately and adjust your style of driving appropri-
ately, as you will not know the exact extent of the damage.
Low brake fluid level
An insufficient level of brake fluid may result in problems in the brake system.
The level of the brake fluid is monitored electronically » page 35,
 Brake sys-
tem .
Brake booster
The brake booster increases the pressure generated with the brake pedal. The
brake booster only operates when the engine is running.WARNINGOnly apply the brakes for the purpose of drying and cleaning the brake
discs if the traffic conditions permit this. Do not place any other road users
in jeopardy.
Handbrake
Fig. 132
Handbrake
Read and observe and on page 130 first.
The hand brake is used when stopping and parking for securing the vehicle
against unwanted movement.
Apply
›
Pull the handbrake lever firmly upwards.
Release
›
Pull the handbrake lever up slightly and at the same time push in the lock
button » Fig. 132 .
›
Move the lever right down while pressing the lock button.
The handbrake warning light 
lights up when the handbrake is applied, pro-
vided the ignition is on.
A warning signal sounds if the vehicle is inadvertently driven off with the
handbrake applied.
The following message is shown in the information cluster display. Release the handbrake!
RELEASE HANDBRAKE 
131Starting-off and Driving

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.WARNINGPlease 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 acci-
dent!
Parking
Read and observe
and on page 130 first.
When stopping and parking, look for a place with a suitable surface » .
Only carry out the activities while parking in the specified order.
›
Bring the vehicle to a stop and depress the brake pedal.
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
On vehicles with automatic transmission place the selector lever in the P po-
sition.
›
Switch off the engine.
›
For vehicles with manual transmission , select 1st gear or reverse gear
›
Release the brake pedal.
WARNINGThe parts of the exhaust system can become very hot. Therefore, never
stop the vehicle at places where the underside of your vehicle can come in-
to contact with flammable materials such as dry grass, undergrowth,
leaves, spilled fuel or such like. - Risk of fire and serious injury can occur!
Manual shifting of gears and pedals
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Manual gear changing
132
Pedals
132Manual gear changingFig. 133
Gearshift pattern of 5 gear or
6 gear manual gearbox
On the shift lever, the individual gear positions are shown » Fig. 133.
The gearshift indicator must be observed when changing gear » page 46.
Always depress the clutch pedal all the way down. This prevents uneven wear
on the clutch.
Reverse gear is engaged
›
Stop the vehicle.
›
The clutch pedal is fully depressed.
›
Move the shift lever to the idle position switch and press down.
›
Move the shift lever fully to the left and then forward into R posi-
tion » Fig. 133 .
The reversing lights will come on once reverse gear is engaged, provided the ignition is on.
WARNINGNever engage reverse gear when driving – risk of accident!
CAUTION
■ If not in the process of changing gear, do not leave your hand on the gear-
shift lever while driving. The pressure from the hand can cause the gearshift
mechanism to wear excessively.■
When stopping on a slope, never try to hold the vehicle using the accelerator
pedal – this may lead to gear damage.
Pedals
The operation of the pedals must not be hindered under any circumstances! 
132Driving

In the driver's footwell, only a footmat, which is attached to the two corre-
sponding attachment points may be used.
Only use factory-supplied footmats or footmats from the range of ŠKODAOrigi-
nal Accessories, which are fitted to two attachment points.WARNINGNo objects may be placed in the driver's footwell – risk due to obstruction
or limitation of pedal operation.
Automatic gearbox
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Modes and use of selector lever
133
Selector lever lock
134
Manual shifting of gears (Tiptronic)
134
Starting-off and driving
135
The automatic transmission performs automatic gear changes.
The modes of the automatic transmission can be adjusted by the driver by
means of the selector lever.
WARNING■ No throttle when it is set before starting the mode for moving forward
with the selector lever - there is a risk of accident!■
Never move the selector lever to mode R or P when driving – risk of an
accident!
■
When the vehicle is stationery and the engine is running, you need to
hold the vehicle with the brake pedal in mode D, S or R. Even when the en-
gine is idling, the power transmission is never completely interrupted – the
vehicle creeps.
■
When leaving the vehicle, the selector lever is always to put in the P
mode. Otherwise the vehicle could then start to move and potentially cause
an accident.
CAUTION■ If the selector lever is moved to mode N while driving, the accelerator pedal
must be released and you will need to wait until the engine has reached its
idling speed before moving the selector lever to a forward driving mode again.■
When the outdoor temperature is below -10 ° C, the selector lever when
starting must always be in P mode.
■
When stopping on a slope, never try to hold the vehicle using the accelerator
pedal – this may lead to gear damage.
Note
After the ignition is switched off, the ignition key can only be withdrawn if the
selector lever is in the position P.
Modes and use of selector lever
Fig. 134
Selection lever / lock button / display
Read and observe
and on page 133 first.
When the ignition is switched on, the gearbox mode and the currently selected
gear are indicated in the display » Fig. 134.
The following modes can be selected with the selector lever » Fig. 134.
P
– Parking mode
The driven wheels are locked mechanically in this mode.
The parking mode must only be selected when the vehicle is stationary.
R
– Reverse gear
Reverse gear can only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary and the en-
gine is at idling speed. 
133Starting-off and Driving