2014 SKODA OCTAVIA warning lights

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

Assist systems
Braking and stabilisation systems
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
138
Antilock Braking System (ABS)
138
Traction Control System (TCS)
139
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL and XDS)
139
Driver Steering Recommendation (DSR)
139
Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA)
140
Hill Hold Control (HHC)
140
Multi-collision brake (MCB)
140
Trailer stabilisation (TSA)
140
This chapter deals with the functions of the braking and stabilisation systems,
with the error indicator referred to in chapter » page 34, Warning lights .
The braking and stabilisation systems are automatically activated each time
the ignition is switched on.
WARNING■ A lack of fuel can cause irregular engine running or cause the engine to
shut down. The brake assist systems would then fail to function – risk of
accident!■
The increased safety provided by the brake assist systems must not
tempt you to take safety risks – risk of accident!
■
Always adjust your speed and driving style to the current visibility, weath-
er, road and traffic conditions.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Read and observe
on page 138 first.
The ESC improves vehicle stability in dynamic driving situations, such as when
the vehicle starts to skid.
The ESC monitors whether the desired direction of the current vehicle motion
is occurring. In case of any deviation (e.g. oversteer), the ESC automatically
brakes individual wheels to maintain the desired direction.
During an intervention of the system, the warning light  flashes in the instru-
ment cluster.
Enable/disable ESC Sport
ESC Sport allows for sportier driving style. The activation of the ESC sport
leads to the ASR being deactivated and no ESC interventions will occur in the
event of slight over- or under-steering occurring.
The activation or deactivation of the ESC sports can be done in one of two
ways.
› By pressing the Symbol key

for the activation and briefly pressing the but-
ton for the deactivation » Fig. 137 on page 139 .
› In Infotainment
» Operating instructions for Infotainment , chapter Vehicle
settings (CAR button) .
Upon activation, in the instrument cluster the indicator light  comes on and
the display shows the following message.
ESC sport: Limited driving stability.
ESC SPORT
Upon deactivation, in the instrument cluster the control indicator  turns off
and the display shows the following message.
Stabilisation control (ESC) activated.
ESC ON
Antilock Braking System (ABS)
Read and observe
on page 138 first.
ABS prevents the wheels locking when braking. Thus helping the driver to
maintain control of the vehicle.
The intervention of the ABS is noticeable from the pulsating movements of
the brake pedal which is accompanied by noises.
When the ABS system is active, do not brake periodically or reduce the pres- sure on the brake pedal.
138Driving

Traction Control System (TCS)Fig. 137
System button: Vehicle with ESC / vehicle without ESC
Read and observe
on page 138 first.
TCS prevents the spinning of the wheels of the driven axle. TCS reduces the
drive power transmitted to the wheels in the case of slipping wheels. Thus, for
example, driving on road surfaces with low grip is made easier.
During a TCS intervention, the indicator light  flashes in the instrument clus-
ter.
Activating/deactivating TCS
The activation or deactivation of TCS can be done, depending on equipment, in
one of the following ways.
› In Infotainment
» Operating instructions for Infotainment , chapter Vehicle
settings (CAR button) .
› By briefly pressing the symbol key

» Fig. 137 .
› By briefly pressing the symbol key

» Fig. 137 .
Upon deactivation, in the instrument cluster the indicator light  lights up and
the display shows the following message.
Traction control (ASR) deactivated.
ASR OFF
Upon activation, in the instrument cluster the indicator turns  and the display
shows the following message.
Traction control (ASR) activated.
ASR ON
The TCS should normally always be enabled. The system should be deactivated
only in the following situations, for example.
› When driving with snow chains.
› When driving in deep snow or on a very loose surface.
› When it is necessary to “rock” a car free when it has become stuck.
Note
On vehicles without the ESC system, the warning light
 does not illuminate
upon deactivation of the ASR system, but a message is only displayed on the
display of the instrument cluster.
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL and XDS)
Read and observe
on page 138 first.
EDL
EDL prevents the turning of the respective wheel of the driven axle. EDL
brakes the spinning wheel, if necessary, and transmits the driving force to the
other driving wheel. Driving becomes easier on road surfaces with different
traction under each wheel of the driven axle.
EDL switches off automatically to avoid excessive heat generation on the
brake of the wheel being braked. The vehicle can continue to be driven and
has the same characteristics as a vehicle not fitted with EDL. Once the brakes
have cooled down, there is an automatic re-activation of EDL.
XDS
XDL is an extension to the electronic differential lock. XDL does not respond to
traction, but to the load relief of the inner front wheel of the driving axle dur-
ing fast cornering.
The automatic brake intervention on the brake of the wheel with reduced load
prevents the wheel from spinning. Thus, the traction is improved and the vehi-
cle can continue to follow the desired track.
Driver Steering Recommendation (DSR)
Read and observe
on page 138 first.
The DSR indicates to the driver in critical situations a steering recommenda-
tion in order to stabilise the vehicle. The DSR is activated, for example, on the
right and left vehicle side when braking sharply on different road surfaces.
139Assist systems

Towing a trailer
On vehicles equipped with a factory-fitted towing device, only the areas A
and
B
» Fig. 138 of the system are active when operating a trailer, there is no
road display.
Note
■ If not all fields around vehicles with Version 3 are shown after the system is
activated, the vehicle will need to be moved a few metres forwards or back-
wards.■
The signal tones for front obstacle recognition are factory-set to be higher
than for rear obstacle recognition.
Activation/deactivation
Read and observe
and on page 141 first.
The system is automatically activated by selecting reverse gear or pressing
the symbol button 
» Fig. 138 on page 141 .
This is confirmed by a short acoustic signal (the symbol  in the button lights
up).
On vehicles with Version 1, the system can be deactivated by moving out of re-
verse gear.
For vehicles with Version 2 and 3, the system is deactivated by pressing the
symbol button or automatically at a speed over 10 km/h (the symbol
 in
the button goes out).
Fault display
If a warning signal sounds for about 3 seconds after activating the system and
there is no obstacle close to your car, this indicates a system fault. The fault is
also indicated by the symbol  flashing in the button. Seek help from a spe-
cialist garage.
Note
■ The system can only be activated via the symbol button  at a speed of be-
low 10 km/hr.■
By means of the key 
in the infotainment display » Fig. 140 on page 142
the display can be switched to the camera image » page 143, Optical Parking
Assistant (rear view camera) .
Road displayFig. 140
Infotainment display: Road dis-
play
Read and observe and on page 141 first.
The display of the upcoming road changes depending on the steering angle
A
» Fig. 140 .
Obstacles that are located on the road are represented by the following col-
ours.
› Red – the distance to the obstacle is less than about 30 cm.
› Yellow – the distance to the obstacle is more than about 30 cm.
Obstacles that are not located on the road are represented by the following
colours.
› Red – the distance to the obstacle is less than about 30 cm.
› White – the distance to the obstacle is more than about 30 cm.
The road ahead is displayed when a forward gear or Neutral is engaged or the
selector lever is in mode D/S or position N is set.
The road behind the vehicle is displayed when reverse gear is engaged or the
selector lever is in mode R.
142Driving

The state in which the steering wheel is operated by the system, is referred to
as parking operation.
The parking aid is part of the park assist system, therefore the information
and safety guidelines » page 140 , Parking aid must also be read and ob-
served.WARNING■ The system only serves to support and does not relieve the driver of the
responsibility for the vehicle operation.■
During the parking process, the system automatically performs rapid
steering movements. While it is doing so, do not place your hands between
the steering wheel – risk of injury!
■
During a parking manoeuvre on loose or slippery surfaces (gravel, snow,
ice, etc.) you may stray from the calculated road because of the surface
conditions. Therefore we suggest that you do not use the system in such
situations.
■
External noise sources may affect the signals of the system sensors. Un-
der adverse conditions, this may cause objects or people to not be recog-
nised by the system.
CAUTION
■ If other vehicles are parked behind the kerb or on it, the system can also
guide your vehicle beyond the kerb or onto it. Ensure that the wheels or the
wheel rims of your vehicle are not damaged and if necessary intervene in time.■
Under certain circumstances, surfaces or structures of certain objects such
as wire mesh fences or powder snow cannot be recognised by the system.
■
Under adverse weather conditions (heavy rain, water vapour, very low or
high temperatures etc.), the system functioning may be limited - “incorrect ob-
stacle detection”.
CAUTION
The correct evaluation of the parking space and the parking procedure de-
pends on the circumference of the wheels on the vehicle.■
The system only works correctly if the vehicle is fitted with the wheel size
approved by the manufacturer.
■
Do without the use of the system if snow chains or a spare wheel is moun-
ted.
■
If wheels other than those approved by the manufacturer are mounted, the
resulting position of the vehicle in the parking space can differ slightly. This
can be avoided by readjusting the system at a specialist garage.
NoteWe recommend performing the parking at a safe speed to about 5 km / h.
Functioning
Read and observe
and on page 145 first.
Basic system operations
› The measurement and evaluation of the size of parking spaces when driving.
› The determination of the correct position of the vehicle for parking.
› The calculation of the line on which the vehicle drives backwards into the
parking space or forwards from the parking space.
› Automatic rotation of the front wheels during the parking.
The display of the instrument cluster (hereinafter only in the display) informa- tion and system messages are displayed.
When the system is activated, the warning light lights up 
» Fig. 144 on
page 145 -
 .
The traction control system (TCS) must always be switched on when parking.
Finding a parking space
Fig. 144
System button / display
Read and observe
and on page 145 first.
Finding a parallel parking space
›
Drive past the parking space at up to 40 km/h and a distance of 0.5 – 1.5 m.
›
Press the symbol button once

» Fig. 144 .
The display shows » Fig. 144 -
 . 
145Assist systems

WARNING■The system only serves to support and does not relieve the driver of the
responsibility for the vehicle operation.■
The driver must always be ready to take over steering of the vehicle him-
self (accelerate or brake).
■
Always adapt your speed and safety proximity to the vehicle ahead to the
current visibility, weather, road and traffic conditions.
WARNING■ The ACC does not react when approaching a stationary obstacle, such as
traffic jams, vehicle breakdowns or vehicles waiting at a traffic light.■
The ACC does not respond to crossing or oncoming objects.
■
If the ACC does not decelerate fast enough, immediately apply the vehi-
cle's foot brake.
WARNINGFor safety reasons, do not use the ACC under the following conditions.■When driving in turning lanes, motorway exits or construction sites, to
avoid an unwanted acceleration to the stored speed.■
When visibility is poor, (e.g. fog, heavy rain, thick snowfall).
■
When road conditions are poor (e.g. ice, slippery road, gravel, dirt road).
■
When driving around “sharp” bends.
■
When riding on a steep gradient / high slope.
CAUTION
The control may automatically switch off when some brake assist systems (e.g.
ESC) intervene, when the maximum permissible engine speed is exceeded, etc.
Note
■ The ACC is designed primarily for use on motorways.■The ACC reduces the speed by automatically releasing the accelerator or by
means of a braking procedure as appropriate. If the brakes are used for an au-
tomatic speed reduction at any moments, then the brake light illuminates.■
In case of failure of more than one brake light on the vehicle or on the elec-
trically connected trailer, the ACC becomes unavailable.
Radar sensorFig. 148
Mounting location of the radar
sensor
Read and observe and on page 150 first.
The radar sensor » Fig. 148 (From here on referred to as sensor) is used to as-
sess the traffic situation in front of the vehicle.
The sensor can distinguish objects by radiating and receiving electromagnetic waves.
The sensor function may be impaired in the events of one of the following.
› The sensor is covered by mud, snow or debris, for example.
› The sensor or its immediate surroundings are covered by other objects, for
example, a sticker is attached.
› When visibility is poor, (e.g. fog, heavy rain, thick snowfall).
If the sensor is dirty or does not have “visibility” for any other reason, the fol- lowing message appears in the instrument cluster display » page 155.
WARNING■
If you suspect that the sensor is damaged, deactivate the ACC. Have the
sensor checked by a specialist garage.■
The sensor can become misaligned by collisions or by damage to the front
of the vehicle, the wheel arch or the underside of the vehicle. This can lead
to an impairment of the ACC function - risk of accidents! Have the sensor
checked by a specialist garage.
■
The area in front of and around the sensor must not be covered with
stickers, additional lights or similar items. This can lead to impaired function
of the sensor - risk of accidents! 
150Driving

WARNINGThe sensor may not be able to distinguish all objects correctly under certain
circumstances. You should therefore not use ACC in the following cases -
risk of accidents!■
When driving through places where metal objects (such as metal build-
ings, railroad tracks, etc.) can be found.
■
When driving through very divided and enclosed spaces (such as large-ca-
pacity garages, car ferries, tunnels and the like.).
CAUTION
Remove the snow with a brush and the ice with a solvent-free de-icer.
Operation
Fig. 149
Instrument cluster display (ACC): Set proximity, recognized vehi-
cle
Fig. 150
Instrument cluster display: Examples of ACC status displays
Read and observe and on page 150 first.
ACC can be controlled and the settings adjusted using the control lev-
er » Fig. 151 on page 152 or in Infotainment » infotainment manual , chap-
ter Vehicle settings (CAR key) .
Distance setting and a detected vehicle » Fig. 149
Vehicle detected (control active).
Line, which indicates the time interval delay when adjusting.
Set time interval to the vehicle ahead.
Vehicle detected (control deactivated).
ACC status indications » Fig. 150
Control is inactive (the numbers of the speed indications are small and of a
grey color).
Control activated - no vehicle detected.
Control deactivated - no speed stored.
Control active - vehicle is detected (the figures of the speed indications
are displayed larger or are highlighted).
The ACC can consistently maintain the set speed of 30-160 km/h, as well as
the proximity to the vehicle ahead ranging from a very small to a very long
time interval.
The ACC adjusts the set speed with respect to the detected vehicle ahead,
thus maintaining the selected proximity.
If the delay of the ACC is insufficient in relation to the vehicle in front, in the
instrument cluster, the warning light  lights up and the display shows the
following message.
Apply the brake!
The ACC can detect a vehicle that is up to approx. 120 m ahead using the radar
sensor.
Note
Some ACC notifications in the display of the instrument cluster may be hidden
by notifications for other functions. An ACC notification automatically appears
for a brief moment when there is a change in status of the ACC.1234ABCD151Assist systems

The sensor function may be impaired in the events of one of the following.
› The sensor is soiled by mud, snow etc.
› The area in front and around the sensor is obscured by labels, auxiliary lights
or similar items.
› Visibility is poor, (e.g. fog, heavy rain, thick snowfall).
If the sensor is dirty or covered, the corresponding message appears on the
display of the instrument cluster » page 157, Information messages .WARNING■
If you suspect that the sensor is damaged, deactivate the system. Have
the sensor checked by a specialist garage.■
The sensor can become misaligned by collisions or by damage to the front
of the vehicle, the wheel arch or the underside of the vehicle. This can lead
to impaired function of the sensor - risk of accidents! Have the sensor
checked by a specialist garage.
■
The area in front and around the sensor should not be obscured by labels,
auxiliary lights or similar items. This can lead to impaired function of the
sensor - risk of accidents!
CAUTION
Remove the snow with a brush and the ice with a solvent-free de-icer.
Operation
Fig. 155
Instrument cluster display: Note
(dangerous distance)advance /
warning or emergency braking at
low speed
Read and observe and on page 155 first.
The system support is provided in the following manner.
› Alerts you about a dangerous proximity to the vehicle ahead.
› Warns you of an impending collision.
› Prepares the brakes for emergency braking prior to a detected danger.
›Assists with a brake action triggered by the driver.
› If the driver fails to respond to a detected danger, automatic braking is per-
formed.
The system can work only if the following basic conditions are met. The system is activated.
TCS is enabled » page 138, Braking and stabilisation systems .
The vehicle is traveling forwards at a speed of more than approx. 5 km/h.
Note
The system can be impaired or may not be available, for example when driving
in “sharp ”curves or with an ESC engagement » page 138.
proximity warning (dangerous proximity)
Read and observe
and on page 155 first.
If a safe distance to the vehicle ahead is not maintained, the display of the in-strument cluster shows the symbol 
» Fig. 155 on page 156 -
 .
Immediately increase the proximity if the current traffic situation allows you
to do so!
The proximity at which the warning is displayed depends on the current speed.
The warning may occur when driving between about 60 km/h and 210 km/h.
Warning and automatic braking
Read and observe
and on page 155 first.
Emergency braking at low speed
In a driving speed range of approx. 5 km/h to approx. 30 km/h, the automatic
braking action is not preceded by a warning. In the event of an immediate risk
of impact, automatic braking is carried out with the breaking force increasing
in stages.
The symbol 
» Fig. 155 on page 156 -
 appears in the display during auto-
matic braking
Advance warning
If the system detects a risk of collision, the symbol 
» Fig. 155 on page 156 -
 appears in the display and you will hear an acoustic signal.
At the same time, the braking system is prepared for possible emergency brak-
ing. 
156Driving