2015 SKODA OCTAVIA warning

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 126 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 R .
›
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
128
Pedals
128Manual gear changingFig. 148
Gearshift pattern of 5-gear or 6-
gear manual gearbox
The shift pattern for the individual gear positions is shown on the gear lever » Fig. 148 .
The gearshift indicator must be observed when changing gear » page 41.
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 position
» Fig. 148 .
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 clutch and
the accelerator pedal – this may lead to damage to the clutch.
Pedals
The operation of the pedals must not be hindered under any circumstances! 
128Driving

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
129
Selector lever lock
130
Manual shifting of gears (Tiptronic)
130
Starting-off and driving
131
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!
■
If the vehicle is in the mode selected D, S , R or Tiptronic and the engine
stops when at idle speed, then the brake pedal must be pressed. Even
when the engine is idling, the power transmission is never completely in-
terrupted – the vehicle creeps.
■
When leaving the vehicle, the selector lever is always to put in the P
mode. Otherwise, the vehicle could be set in motion - risk of 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. 149
Selector lever/display
Read and observe and on page 129 first.
When the ignition is switched on, the gearbox mode and the currently selected
gear are indicated in the display » Fig. 149.
The following modes can be selected with the selector lever » Fig. 149.
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.
N
– Neutral
The power transmission to the drive wheels is interrupted in this mode. 
129Starting-off and Driving

D/S - mode for driving forward (Normal program) / mode for driving
forward (Sport program)
The system switches from one mode to the other by moving the selector lever
into the spring-loaded position 
» Fig. 149 .
In mode D or S, the forward gears are shifted automatically depending on the
engine load, the operation of the accelerator pedal, the vehicle speed, and the
selected driving mode .
In mode S , the forward gears are shifted automatically up and down at high-
er engine speeds than in mode D.
If the Sport driving mode is selected with the engine running » page 157, Se-
lection of the driving mode (Driving Mode Selection) , the transmission is auto-
matically set in the S mode.
E – Economical driving mode
If the driving mode Eco or Individual (engine - Eco) » page 157 is selected and
the selection lever is in the setting D/S, the transmission is automatically set
to mode E. This mode cannot be selected with the selector lever.
In mode E , the forward gears are shifted automatically up and down at lower
engine speeds than in mode D.
Selector lever lock
Fig. 150
Shift lock button
Read and observe and on page 129 first.
The selector lever is locked in mode P and N to prevent that the forward driv-
ing is selected accidentally, thereby setting the vehicle in motion.
The selector lever is locked only when the vehicle is stationary and at speeds
up to 5 km/h.
The selector lever lock is indicated by the illumination of the warning light .
The selector lever is not locked when quickly moving across the position
N
(e.g. from R to D/S ). This, for example, helps to rock out a vehicle that is stuck,
e.g. in a bank of snow. The selector lever lock will engage if the lever is in posi-
tion N for more than approx. 2 seconds without the brake pedal being de-
pressed.
Releasing selector lever from mode P or N (selector lever lock)›
Press the brake pedal and the lock button at the same time in the direction
of
1
» Fig. 150 .
Just depress the brake pedal, if you would like to change from the mode N to
D/S .
Defective selector lever lock
If the selector lever lock is defective or its power supply is interrupted (e.g. dis-
charged vehicle battery, faulty fuse), the selector lever can no longer be moved
out of position P in the normal manner and the vehicle can no longer be driven.
The selector lever must be unlocked specially » page 225.
Note
If you want to move the selector lever from mode P to mode D/S or vice versa,
move the selector lever quickly. This prevents that you accidentally select
mode R or N.
Manual shifting of gears (Tiptronic)
Fig. 151
Selector lever/multi-function
steering wheel
Read and observe and on page 129 first.
Tiptronic mode makes it possible to manually shift gears with the selector lev-
er or multifunction steering wheel. This mode can be selected both while stop-
ping and while driving.
The currently selected gear is indicated in the display » Fig. 149 on page 129 .
130Driving

›START STOP deactivate
» page 126, Manually deactivating/activating the
system .›
Fully depress and hold the brake pedal with your left foot.
›
Fully depress the accelerator pedal with your right foot.
›
Release the brake pedal.
The vehicle starts off with maximum acceleration.
›
Reactivate the TCS and START-STOP when the desired speed has been
reached.
WARNINGRapid acceleration, particularly on slippery roads, can lead to loss of control
of the vehicle – risk of accident!
Running-in and economical driving
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Running-in
132
Tips for economical driving
132
DriveGreen function
133
The fuel consumption, degree of pollution and vehicle wear depend on driving
style, road condition, weather conditions and the like.
Running-in
Driving in the engine
The engine has to be run in during the first 1500 kilometres. During this period,
the driving style decides on the quality of the driving-in process.
During the first 1 000 km we recommend not driving faster than 3/4 of the
maximum permissible engine speed, not to drive at full throttle and to dis-
pense with the trailer.
In the area of 1,000 to 1,500 kilometres the engine load can be increased up
to the maximum permitted engine speed.
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 have to first “grind in” because these do not initially have the
best possible braking effect.
Drive especially carefully for the first 200 km or so.
Tips for economical driving
To achieve the lowest possible fuel consumption, the following instructions
must be observed.
Looking ahead when driving
Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking.
Switch in an energy saving and timely manner Observe the recommended gear » page 41.
Avoid full throttle and high speeds
Fuel consumption can be reduced by half if only three-quarters of the possible
top speed of your vehicle is used.
Reducing idling
If the vehicle is fitted with the START STOP system there is an automatic re-
duction of the idling. If the engine is stopped on vehicles without START-STOP
system, such as when waiting in a traffic jam, the fuel economy is already
greater after 30 - 40 s than the fuel quantity which is required for engine re-
start.
Avoid short distances
When driving a short distance of less than about 4 km, the engine cannot
reach its operating temperature. As long as the engine has not reached oper-
ating temperature, the fuel consumption is significantly higher than with the
engine hot.
Pay attention to the correct tyre inflation pressure being maintained
Further information » page 205.
Avoid unnecessary ballast
Per 100 kg of weight, consumption increases by about 0.3 l/100 km. At a speed
of 100 - 120 km/h, a vehicle fitted with a roof rack cross member without a load
will use about 10 % more fuel than normal due to the increased aerodynamic
drag.
Saving electricity
Only turn on electrical consumers (e.g. seat, window and mirror heating and
the like) for as long as necessary. 
132Driving

Avoiding damage to your vehicle
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Driving Tips
134
Driving through water
134
This section of the manual contains important information on preventing dam-
age to the vehicle while driving.
Driving Tips
Only drive on such roads and in such terrain, which match the vehicle parame-
ters » page 236 , Technical data as well as your driving skills.
The driver is always responsible for deciding whether the vehicle can handle
travelling in the given terrain.
When travelling off paved roads, we recommend activating the OFF ROAD
mode » page 138 .
WARNING■
Always adjust your driving to the current terrain and weather conditions.
Excessive speed or incorrect driving manoeuvres can cause damage to the
vehicle and lead to serious injuries.■
Combustible objects such as dry leaves or twigs caught under the base of
the vehicle could ignite on hot vehicle parts - risk of fire!
CAUTION
■ Pay attention to the ground clearance of the vehicle! When driving over ob-
jects which are larger than the ground clearance, the vehicle can get damaged.■
Any objects that get trapped under the vehicle floor must be removed as
soon as possible. These objects can damage the fuel lines, the brake system,
seals and other parts of the vehicle.
■
Drive slowly in unknown terrain and watch out for unexpected obstacles,
such as potholes, rocks, stumps, etc.
■
Check up on confusing sections of unpaved roads before travelling on them
and consider whether such travelling is possible without risk.
Driving through waterFig. 153
Maximum permissible water lev-
el when driving through water
The following must be observed to avoid damage to the vehicle when driving
through bodies of water (e.g. flooded roads).
›
Therefore determine the depth of the water before driving through bodies of
water.
The water level must not reach above the web of the lower beam » Fig. 153.
›
Do not drive any faster than at a walking speed.
At a higher speed, a water wave can form in front of the vehicle which can
cause water to penetrate into the air induction system of the engine or into
other parts of the vehicle.
›
Never stop in the water, do not reverse and do not switch the engine off.
CAUTION
■ If water penetrates into the intake system of the engine, there is a risk of se-
rious damage to the engine parts!■
When driving through water, some vehicle parts such as the chassis, the
electrics or the transmission can be severely damaged.
■
Oncoming vehicles can generate water waves which can exceed the permis-
sible water level for your vehicle.
■
Potholes, mud or rocks can be hidden under the water, making it difficult or
impossible to drive through the body of water.
■
Do not drive through salt water, as the salt can cause corrosion. An vehicle
coming into contact with salt water is to be thoroughly rinsed with fresh wa-
ter.
134Driving

Assist systems
General information
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Radar sensor
135WARNINGThe following general information regarding the use of assistance systems
must be observed.■
The assistance systems only serve to support and do not relieve the driv-
er of the responsibility for driving the vehicle.
■
The increased safety provision, as well as the increased occupant protec-
tion provided by the assistance systems must not tempt you to take risks -
risk of accident!
■
Adjust the speed and driving style to the current visibility, weather, road
and traffic conditions.
■
The assistance systems have physical and system-related limitations. For
this reason, the driver may experience some undesired or delayed system
responses in certain situations. You should therefore always be alert and
ready to intervene!
■
Only activate, deactivate or set the assistance systems so that you have
the vehicle fully under control in every traffic situation - risk of accident!
Radar sensor
Fig. 154
Mounting location of the radar
sensor
Read and observe on page 135 first.
The radar sensor » Fig. 154 (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 is a component of the ACC » page 150 and Front Assist
» page 155 systems.
The sensor function may be impaired in the events of one of the following. ▶ The sensor is soiled by mud, snow and the like.
▶ The area in front and around the sensor is obscured by labels, auxiliary lights
and similar.
▶ When visibility is poor, (e.g. fog, heavy rain, thick snowfall).
If the sensor is covered or dirty, the corresponding message appears in the in-
strument cluster display for the ACC system » page 155 or Front Assist system
» page 157 .
WARNING■
If you suspect that the sensor is damaged, deactivate the ACC system
» page 150 and Front Assist system » page 155. 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 and similar. 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.
Braking and stabilisation systems
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Stability Control (ESC)
136
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
136


135Assist systems

Traction control (TCS)136Electronic differential lock (EDL and XDS)137
Driver Steering Recommendation (DSR)
137
Brake Assist (HBA)
137
Hill Start Assist (HHC)
137
Multi collision brake (MCB)
138
Trailer stabilization system (TSA)
138
This chapter describes the functions of the brake and stabilization systems.
The error display is in Chapter » page 31, Warning lights .
The brake and stabilization systems are automatically activated each time the
ignition is switched on, unless otherwise indicated.
WARNINGThe general information relating to the use of assistance systems must be
observed » page 135, in section Introduction .
Stability Control (ESC)
Read and observe
on page 136 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
The activation of the ESC sports allows a sportier driving style. With a slight
over or under steering of the vehicle take no ESC interventions take place and
the TCS is restricted so that the spinning of the wheels of the driven axle can
occur.
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. 155 on page 136 .
▶ Infotainment » Owner´s Manual Infotainment , chapter CAR - vehicle set-
tings .
Upon activation, in the instrument cluster the indicator light  comes on and
the display shows the following message.ESC sport: directional stabil. restricted.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
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
Read and observe
on page 136 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.
Traction control (TCS)
Fig. 155
System button: Vehicle with ESC / vehicle without ESC
Read and observe
on page 136 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. 
136Driving

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. ▶ Infotainment » Owner´s Manual Infotainment , chapter CAR - vehicle set-
tings .
▶ By briefly pressing the symbol key 
» Fig. 155 .
▶ By briefly pressing the symbol key 
» Fig. 155 .
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 TCS 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 136 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. Once the brakes have cooled down, there is
an automatic re-activation of EDL.
XDS
XDS is an extension to the electronic differential lock. XDS 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 136 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.
Brake Assist (HBA)
Read and observe
on page 136 first.
HBA increases the braking effect and helps to shorten the braking distance.
The HBA is activated by the very quick operation of the brake pedal. To ach-
ieve the shortest possible braking distance, the brake pedal must be applied
firmly until the vehicle has come to a complete standstill.
The HBA is automatically switched off when the brake pedal is released.
Hill Start Assist (HHC)
Read and observe
on page 136 first.
HHC allows you, when driving on slopes, to move your foot from the brake
pedal to the accelerator pedal without having to use the handbrake.
The system holds the brake pressure produced by the activation of the brake pedal for approx. 2 seconds after the brake pedal is released.
The HHC is active from a 5% slope if the driver's door is closed. HHC is always
active on slopes when in forward or reverse start off.
137Assist systems