2016 SKODA OCTAVIA handbrake

Using the system
cockpit
OverviewElectric windows
59
Electric exterior mirror adjustment
74
Door opening lever
54
Air outlet vents
108
Ticket holder
83
Operating lever (depending on equipment):
▶ Direction and high beam
65
▶Speed regulating system
212
▶Headlight assist
67
Steering wheel with horn / with driver's front airbag
18
Buttons for operating the information system
41
Instrument cluster
30
Operating lever:
▶ Windscreen wipers and washers
72
▶Information system
41
Infotainment
113
Button for hazard warning light system
68
Warning light for the front passenger airbag
21
Interior rear-view mirror
74
Storage compartment on the front passenger side
87
Front passenger airbag
18
External Infotainment module (in the front passenger storage
compartment)
115
Key switch for switching off the front passenger airbag (in front
passenger storage compartment)
21
Power window in the front passenger door
60
Storage compartment
83
Light switch
64
Bonnet release lever
253
Storage compartment
83
Operating lever for adaptive cruise control
216123456789101112131415161718192021222324Steering wheel locking lever13
Depending on equipment fitted:
▶ Ignition lock
189
▶Starter button
189
Handbrake lever
192
Depending on equipment fitted:
▶ Gearshift lever (manual gearbox)
193
▶Selector lever (automatic gearbox)
194
Depending on equipment fitted:
▶ 12-Volt power socket
90
▶Cigarette lighter
91
Bar with keys depending on the equipment fitted:
▶  Central locking system
53
▶
 START STOP
190
▶
 Traction control TCS
201
▶
 Electronic Stability Control ESC
200
▶
/
 Selection of travel mode
221
▶
 Park Assist
209
▶
 Parking aid
204
▶
 Tyre pressure monitoring system
229
Storage compartmenttelephone box
84, 84
USB and AUX inputs
85
Controls for heating / air conditioning
105
Note
The layout of the controls on right-hand drive vehicles differs partially from
that shown in this layout » Fig. 16.25262728293031323329cockpit

Warning lights
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
 Handbrake
33
 Braking system
33
 Front seat belt warning light
33
 Adaptive cruise control (ACC)
33
 
Power steering / steering lock (KESSY system)
33
 Stability control (ESC) / Traction control (TCS)
34
Traction control (TCS) disabled
34
 Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
34
Rear fog light
34
 Emission control system
35
 Preheating unit (diesel)
35
 EPC warning light (petrol)
35
Safety systems
35
Tyre pressure
35
 Brake linings
36
 Low fuel - petrol / diesel
36

Lane assist (Lane Assist)
36


Turn signal system
36
 Trailer turn signal lights
36
 Fog lights
37
 Cruise control
37
 Brake pedal (automatic gearbox)
37
Natural gas operation
37
 Main beam
37
 Automatic gearbox
37
 Rear seat belt warning light
37
 Generator
37
 Coolant
38
 Engine oil pressure
38
 Engine oil level
38
 Lamp failure
39
 Diesel particle filter (diesel)
39
Windscreen washer fluid level39High beam assistant39

START-STOPsystem
39
Display a low temperature
39
 Water in the fuel filter (diesel)
40

 
Adaptive cruise control (ACC)
40

Distance warning (Front Assist)
40
 Front assist
40
 OFF ROAD mode
40
 Adaptive Chassis Control (DCC)
40
 Service
40
The warning lights in the instrument cluster indicate certain functions or
faults.
Some warning lights can be accompanied by acoustic signals and messages in
the display of the instrument cluster.
After switching on the ignition, some warning lights light up briefly as a func-
tion test. If the tested systems are OK, the corresponding warning lights go
out a few seconds after switching on the ignition or after starting the engine.
The warning lights are located at the following positions in the instrument
cluster » Fig. 17 on page 30 .
▶ Tachometer
1
▶Display
2
▶Speedometer
3
▶Bar with warning lights
5
Warning lights in the display
Depending on the importance the warning light  (danger) or
 (warning) illu-
minate along with some of the warning lights in the list with the warning
lights.
Depending on vehicle equipment, some warning lights can be displayed in col-
our on the display. For example. the coolant warning lamp may be represented
as follows.
▶  - Segment display / monochromatic (“black and white”) MAXI DOT display
▶  - Coloured MAXI DOT display 
32Using the system

WARNING■Ignoring illuminated warning lights and related messages or instructions
in the display of the instrument cluster may lead to serious personal injury
or damage to the vehicle.■
If you have to stop for technical reasons, then park the vehicle at a safe
distance from the traffic, switch off the engine and activate the hazard
warning light system » page 68. Place the warning triangle at the prescri-
bed distance.
■
The engine compartment of your car is a hazardous area. While working in
the engine compartment, be sure to observe the following warnings
» page 252 .
Handbrake
Read and observe
on page 33 first.
 lights up – the handbrake has been applied.
An acoustic signal will sound if you drive the vehicle above 5 km/h while the
handbrake is still on.
▶ Release the handbrake.
Braking system
Read and observe
on page 33 first.
 illuminates – the brake fluid level in the brake system is too low.
▶ Park the vehicle, 
stop driving! Seek help from a specialist garage.
WARNINGA fault to the braking system can increase the vehicle’s braking distance -
There is a risk of an accident!
 Front seat belt warning light
Read and observe
on page 33 first.
 lights up - the driver or front passenger has not fastened their seat belt.
At a speed of over 30 km/h the warning light 
flashes and an audible warning
sounds at the same time.
If the seat belt is not fastened by the driver or front passenger during the next
approx. 2 minutes, the warning signal is deactivated and the warning light il-
luminates permanently.
 Adaptive cruise control (ACC)
Read and observe
on page 33 first.
 illuminates - the ACC delay is not sufficient.
▶ Apply the brake.
For more information about the ACC system » page 214.
  Power steering / steering lock (KESSY system)
Read and observe
on page 33 first.
Fault in the power steering
 lights up – this indicates a complete failure of the power steering and the
steering assist is no longer working (significantly higher steering forces).
 lights up – this indicates a partial failure of the power steering and the
steering forces can be greater.
▶ Switch off the ignition, start the engine again and travel a short distance.
▶ If the warning light does not go off, stop the vehicle,
stop driving
. Seek
help from a specialist garage.
▶ If the warning light does not go off, you can drive on, exercising appropriate
caution. Seek assistance from a specialist garage immediately.
Steering lock defect (KESSY system)
An audible signal sounds as a warning.
 flashes
Steering column lock faulty. Stop!STOP VEHICLE STEERING FAULTY
▶ Park the vehicle, 
stop driving . After switching off the ignition, it is no lon-
ger possible to lock the steering, to activate the electrical components (e.g.
Infotainment ), to switch on the ignition again and to start the engine. Seek
help from a specialist garage.
 flashes
Steering lock: Workshop!STEERING WORKSHOP
▶ You can drive on, exercising appropriate caution. Seek assistance from a spe-
cialist garage immediately. 
33Instruments and warning lights

Switch on/off ignitionFig. 229
Positions of the vehicle key in the ignition lock / starter button
Read and observe
and on page 188 first.
Positions of the vehicle key in the ignition lock » Fig. 229 -

Ignition switched off, engine switched off
Ignition switched on
Starting engine
Switching on /off ignition in vehicles with starter button
›
Press the » Fig. 229 -
 button, the ignition is switched on / off.
On vehicles with manual transmission the pedal must not be depressed to
switch on / off the ignition, otherwise the engine will start.
On vehicles with automatic transmission , the brake pedal must not be de-
pressed to switch on / off the ignition, otherwise the engine will start.
Starting / stopping the engine
Read and observe
and on page 188 first.
Before 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.
›
For vehicles with automatic transmission , place the selector lever in position
P or N and » depress the brake pedal until the engine starts.
123Starting engine›On vehicles with Ignition lock, turn the key to position 3 and the engine
starts » Fig. 229 on page 189 
. Then release the key, the engine will start
automatically.
If the engine does not start within 10 seconds, turn the key to position 1
. Re-
peat the start-up process after 30 s.
›
On vehicles with starter button, press the button briefly » Fig. 229 on
page 189 - 
, the motor will start automatically.
For vehicles with diesel engines, the glow plug warning light 
goes on dur-
ing starting. The engine starts after the warning light goes out.
Switching the engine off
›
Stop the vehicle.
›
On vehicles with ignition lock, turn the key to position
1
» Fig. 229 on
page 189 -
 .
›
On vehicles with
starter button, press the button » Fig. 229 on page 189 -
 ,
The engine and the ignition will be switched off simultaneously.
For vehicles with automatic transmission, the ignition key can only be removed
if the selector lever is in position P .
Do not switch the engine off immediately at the end of your journey if the en-
gine has been working at high revs over a prolonged period, but leave it to run
at an idling speed for about 1 minute. This prevents any possible accumulation
of heat when the engine is switched off.
Emergency shutdown of the engine in vehicles with starter button
The system is equipped with a protective device against accidental switching
off, the engine can only be shut off while driving in the event of an emergency.
›
Keep the knob pressed » Fig. 229 on page 189 -
 or press it twice within 1
second.
After the emergency stop of the engine, the steering lock will remain un-
locked.
CAUTION
When the outdoor temperature is below -10 ° C, the selector lever when start-
ing must always be in P mode. 189Starting-off and Driving

Conditions for the system function
The following conditions must be met for the system to function correctly.
The driver's door is closed.
The driver has fastened the seat belt.
The driving speed was higher than 4 km.h after the last stop.
System status
The system status is shown in the display when the vehicle comes to a halt
» Fig. 231 .
The engine is automatically switched off; when the vehicle moves off, the
ignition process will be automatically initiated.
The engine is not automatically switched off.
The engine does not shut down when the vehicle stops, if e.g. the following
applies.
▶ The engine temperature for the proper function of the system has not yet
been reached.
▶ The charge state of the vehicle battery is too low.
▶ The current consumption is too high.
▶ High air conditioning or heating output (high fan speed, big difference be-
tween the desired and actual interior temperature).
If the engine has shut down automatically but the system detects that the en- gine is required to run (e.g. if the brake pedal is pressed repeatedly) then the
system automatically starts up the engine.
More information about the current system status can be displayed in infotain-
ment screen, in the 

→

→
Veh. status
menu.
If there is a system fault , the following message will appear in the display of
the instrument cluster. Seek help from a specialist garage.
Note
■ If the driver's seat belt is removed for more than 30 seconds or the driver's
door is opened after the engine has switched off automatically, the engine will
have to be restarted manually.■
No automatic engine shut-down takes place when a vehicle with automatic
transmission is moving at low speed (e.g. during a traffic jam) and remains sta-
tionary after pressing the brake pedal lightly. Automatic engine shut-down
takes place if you press the brake pedal down with more force.
■
For vehicles with automatic transmission there is no automatic engine shut-
down when the system detects a manoeuvring action due to a large steering
angle.
manually activate/deactivate systemFig. 232
Button for the START-STOP sys-
tem
›
To deactivate/activate the system, press the
 button
» Fig. 232 .
When the system is deactivated, the symbol in the button lights up .
If the system is turned off, it will be automatically reactivated after turning the
ignition off and on.
Note
If the system is deactivated when the engine is turned off automatically, then
the automatic start process takes place.
Brakes and Parking
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Handbrake
192
Parking
193
The wear and tear on the brake pads is dependent on the operating condi-
tions and driving style. In difficult conditions (e.g. urban, sporty driving), the
condition of the brakes should be checked between service intervals by a spe-
cialist garage.
Brake response can be slower if the brakes are covered in moisture or, in win-
ter, have a layer of ice or salt on them . The brakes should be cleaned and
dried by applying the brakes many times over »
.
Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt on the brake pads can 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 by applying the brakes several times
over »
. 
191Starting-off and Driving

Before negotiating a long or steep gradient , reduce speed and shift down a
gear. As a result, the braking effect of the engine will be used, reducing the
load on the brakes. If, nevertheless, there is a need for additional braking, it
should be carried out at intervals.
Emergency braking warning - If it is necessary to brake hard, the system may
cause the brake lights to automatically flash, to alert the traffic behind.
New brake pads must first be““run in”” because these do not initially have the
best possible braking effect. Drive especially carefully for the first 200 km or
so.
If the brake fluid level is too low, it can cause faults in the braking system ;
the warning light will light up in the instrument cluster » page 33
,
 Braking
system . If the warning light does not light up, yet the stopping distance is per-
ceived to be longer than before, the driving style should be adapted in view of
the unknown cause of the problem, and braking kept to a minimum - seek the
help of a specialist garage without delay.
The brake booster increases the pressure generated with the brake pedal. The
brake booster only operates when the engine is running.WARNING■ 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!
■
Do not depress the brake pedal, if there is no requirement to slow down.
This causes the brakes to overheat and can also result in a longer braking
distance and excessive wear - There is a risk of an accident!
■
Only brake 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.
■
Recommendations for new brake pads should be followed.
■
When stopping and parking, the parking brake should always be applied
firmly, otherwise the vehicle could move off - There is a risk of an 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.
Otherwise, the front brakes could be in danger of overheating – There is a
risk of an accident!
HandbrakeFig. 233
Handbrake
Read and observe on page 192 first.
The handbrake secures the vehicle against unwanted movement when stop- ping and parking.
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. 233 .
›
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 handbrake warning is activated if the vehicle is driven
at a speed of over 5 km/h for more than 3 seconds.
WARNINGDisengage the handbrake completely. A handbrake which is only partially
disengaged can result in the rear brakes overheating. This can have a nega-
tive effect on the operation of the brake system – risk of accident!
Note
Push the armrest cover all the way back to the stop before applying the hand-
brake » page 79 .192Driving

ParkingRead and observe
on page 192 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.
WARNING■
The parts of the exhaust system can become very hot. Therefore, never
stop the vehicle in places where the underside of your vehicle could come
into contact with flammable materials (e.g. dry grass, leaves, spilled fuel or
the like). - Risk of fire and serious injury can occur!■
When leaving the vehicle never leave people unattended in the car who
could, for example, lock the vehicle or release the brake - There is a risk of
an accident and an injury!
Manual shifting of gears and pedals
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Manual gear changing
193
Pedals
194
CAUTION
When stopping on a slope, never try to hold the vehicle using the clutch and
the accelerator pedal – There is risk of damage to the clutch.Manual gear changingFig. 234
The shift pattern
Read and observe on page 193 first.
On the gear lever, the shift pattern for the individual gear positions is shown
» Fig. 234 .
The gearshift indicator must be observed when changing gear » page 42.
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.
›
Switch the gear lever to N.
›
Push the shift lever downwards fully to the left and then forward into
R » Fig. 234 .
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 gearshift
lever while driving. The pressure from the hand can cause the gearshift mech-
anism to wear excessively.193Starting-off and Driving

WARNINGNever cover the engine with additional insulation material (e.g. with a blan-
ket) – risk of fire!WARNINGWhen working in the engine compartment, the following instructions must
be observed - otherwise risk of injury or fire. The engine compartment of
your car is a hazardous area!WARNINGInstructions before beginning work in the engine compartment■Stop the engine and remove the ignition key, on vehicles with the KESSY
system, open the driver's door.■
Firmly apply the handbrake.
■
For vehicles with manual transmission the lever into the neutral position.
For vehicles with automatic transmission , place the selector lever in the P
position.
■
Allow the engine to cool.
■
Never open the bonnet if you can see steam or coolant flowing out of the
engine compartment – risk of scalding! Wait until the steam or coolant has
stopped escaping.
WARNINGInformation for working in the engine compartment■Keep everyone away from the engine compartment.■
Do not touch any hot engine parts – risk of burns!
■
Never touch the radiator fan. The radiator fan may still turn suddenly
about 10 minutes after switching off the ignition!
■
Do not smoke in the vicinity of the engine and avoid the use of open
flames or sparks.
■
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.
■
Read the information and warning instructions on the fluid containers.
WARNINGInformation for working in the engine compartment with the engine run-
ning■
If it is necessary to work on the engine with the engine running, beware
of rotating engine parts and electrical plants - There is a risk to life!
■
Never touch the electric wiring on the ignition system.
■
Avoid short circuits in the electrical system, particularly on the vehicle's
battery.
CAUTION
Only refill using fluids with the proper specification - There is risk of damage to
the vehicle!
Note
■ Fluids with the proper specifications can be purchased from the ŠKODA Origi-
nal Accessories or from the ŠKODA Genuine Parts ranges.■
We recommend you have the operating fluids replaced by a specialist garage.
Opening and closing the bonnet
Fig. 290
Open the bonnet
Read and observe
and on page 253 first.
Open flap
›
Ensure that the windscreen wipers are not raised away from the windscreen
- There is risk of damage to the bonnet.
›
Open the front door and pull the release lever below the dash panel in the
direction of arrow
1
» Fig. 290 .
›
Press the release lever in the direction of arrow
2
and the bonnet will be
unlocked. 
253Inspecting and replenishing