2016 SKODA OCTAVIA Owner's Manual

Seat belts
Using seat belts
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Correct routing of seat belt
16
Fastening and unfastening seat belts
16
Seat belts that are fastened correctly offer good protection in the event of an
accident. They reduce the risk of an injury and increase the chance of survival
in the event of a major accident.
The seat belts reduce kinetic energy to a considerable extent. They also pre-
vent uncontrolled movements which, in turn, may well result in severe injuries.
When transporting a child the following instructions must be observed
» page 22 , Transporting children safely .
WARNING■
Fasten seat belts before every journey! This also applies to other passen-
gers - there is a danger of injury!■
The maximum protection which seat belts can offer is only achieved if you
are correctly seated » page 12, Correct and safe seated position .
■
The seat backrests of the front seats must not be tilted too far to the rear
otherwise the seatbelts can lose their effectiveness.
WARNINGInformation on dealing with the safety belts■The belt webbing must not be jammed in-between at any point or twis-
ted, or chafe against any sharp edges.■
Make sure you do not catch the seat belt in the door when closing it.
WARNINGInformation on the proper use of the safety belts■Adjust the height of the belt in such a way that the shoulder part of the
belt is roughly positioned across the middle of your shoulder – on no ac-
count across your neck.WARNING (Continued)■ No two persons (also not children) should ever use a single seat belt to-
gether.■
The lock tongue should only be inserted into the lock which is the correct
one for your seat. Wrong use of the safety belt will reduce its capacity to
protect and the risk of injury increases.
■
Many layers of clothing and loose clothing (e. g. a winter coat over a jack-
et) do not allow you to be correctly seated and impairs proper operation of
the seat belts.
■
Do not use clamps or other objects to adjust seat belts (e.g. for shorten-
ing the belts for smaller persons).
■
The seat belts for the rear seats can only fulfil their function reliably
when the seat backrests are correctly locked into position » page 79.
WARNINGInformation on the care and maintenance of the safety belts■The belt webbing must always be kept clean. Soiled belt webbing may im-
pair proper operation of the inertia reel » page 247.■
The seat belts must not be removed or changed in any way. Do not at-
tempt to repair the seat belts yourself.
■
Check the condition of all the seat belts on a regular basis. If damage to
the parts of the seat belt system (e.g. the strap, the belt connectors, the
retractor, the lock or similar) are detected, the seat belt in question must
be replaced by a specialist immediately.
■
Seat belts which have been subject to stress in an accident should be re-
placed by a specialist garage. The anchorage points for the belts should al-
so be checked.
15Seat belts

Correct routing of seat beltFig. 4
Routing of belt webbing over the shoulders and the lap belt/Rout-
ing of belt webbing for an expectant mother
Fig. 5
Seat belt height adjusters for front seats
Read and observe
on page 15 first.
It is important that the belt is properly routed to ensure seat belts offer the
maximum protection.
The shoulder belt should be positioned approximately over the middle of your
shoulder (under no circumstances across your neck) and lie flush to the
chest » Fig. 4 - 
.
The lower part of the belt should run across the pelvis (it should not lie on top
of the stomach) and must always fit snugly » Fig. 4 - 
.
For pregnant women , the lower part of the belt must be positioned as low
down as possible across the pelvis, to avoid exerting any pressure on the low-
er abdomen » Fig. 4 - 
.
Seat belt height adjusters for front seats›Push the return pulley upwards in the direction of arrow » Fig. 5 -  .›
Or : push together the mechanism in the direction of arrows
1
and push the
return pulley downwards in the direction of arrow
2
» Fig. 5 - 
.
›
Then pull firmly on the belt to ensure that the seat belt height adjuster has
correctly locked in place.
WARNING■ Always ensure that the webbing of the seat belts is properly routed. Seat
belts which are not correctly adjusted can themselves cause injuries even
in minor accidents.■
A seat belt which is hanging too loose can result in injuries as your body is
moved forward by the kinetic energy produced in an accident and is then
suddenly held firm by the belt.
■
The belt webbing must not run across solid or fragile objects (e.g. pencils,
spectacles, pens, keys etc.). Such objects can cause injury.
Fastening and unfastening seat belts
Fig. 6
Fastening/unfastening the seat belt
Read and observe
on page 15 first.
Before fastening the belt
›
Adjust the head restraint properly (does not apply to seats with integrated
head restraints).
›
Adjust the seat (applies to the front seats).
›
Adjust the belt height (applies to the front seats).
Fasten
›
Use the lock tongue to slowly pull the webbing over your chest and pelvis. 
16Safety

›Insert the lock tongue into the belt buckle for the seat
» Fig. 6 -  until it
audibly clicks into place.›
Pull on the belt to check that it has engaged correctly in the lock.
Release
›
Grip the lock tongue and press the red button in the buckle » Fig. 6 - 
, the
lock tongue pops out.
›
Guide the belt back by hand so that the seat belt does not twist and the
webbing rolls up fully.
WARNINGThe reel opening for the lock tongue must not be blocked otherwise the
lock tongue will not lock into place properly.
Inertia reel and belt pretensioners
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Inertia reels
17
Belt tensioners
17
Inertia reels
Each seat belt is equipped with an inertia reel.
When pulling slowly on the seat belt, the belt can move freely. When pulling
sharply on the seat belt, the movement is locked by the inertia reel. The belts
also block when during full braking, when the car accelerates, when driving
downhill and when cornering.
WARNINGIf the seat belt does not lock when pulling sharply on it, have it inspected
immediately by a specialist garage.
Belt tensioners
Safety for the driver and front passenger wearing their seat belts is enhanced
by the belt tensioners fitted to the inertia reels of the front three-point seat
belts.
If there is a collision of a certain severity, the seat belts are tightened by the
belt tensioner so that unwanted body motion is prevented.
Belt tensioners are not activated in the event of minor collisions, in the case
of a roll-over and also not in accidents in which no major forces are produced.WARNING■ Any work on the belt tensioner system, including the removal and instal-
lation of system components because of other repair work, must only be
carried out by a specialist garage.■
If the belt tensioners have been deployed, it is then necessary to replace
the entire system.
Note
■ The belt tensioners can also be deployed if the seat belts are not fastened.■Smoke is generated when the belt tensioners are deployed. This is not an in-
dication of a fire in the vehicle.17Seat belts

Airbag system
Description of the airbag system
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
System description
18
Airbag deployment
19
Safety instructions
19
The airbag system provides, as a supplement to the seat belts, additional oc-
cupant protection during severe frontal and side-on collisions.
The airbag will only provide optimum protection in conjunction with wearing
the seat belt, the airbag is not a substitute for the seat belts .
The functional status of the airbag system is indicated by the indicator light 
in the instrument cluster » page 35.
System description
Fig. 7
Airbag installation points
Airbag installation points » Fig. 7
Front airbags
Driver’s knee airbag
Front side airbags
ABCRear side airbags
Head airbags
Front airbags - the forward thrust of the driver and of the front passenger is
cushioned when they make contact with the fully-inflated airbag, and the risk
of injury to head and chest is thus reduced.
The front airbags can be identified by the lettering 
featured on the steer-
ing wheel and on the dash panel on the passenger side.
Driver´s knee airbag - The forward movement of the body is cushioned when
it makes contact with the fully inflated airbag, and the risk of injury to the legs
of the driver is thus reduced.
The knee airbag is provided with the lettering  on the dashboard on the
driver's side.
Side airbags - The load of the occupants is cushioned when plunged into the
fully inflated airbag. The risk of injury to the entire upper body (chest, stomach
and pelvis) is reduced on the side facing the door.
The side air bags are marked by a label with the lettering  on the front
seat backrests. The rear side airbags are provided with the lettering  in be-
tween the entrance area and the rear seat backrest.
Head airbags - The forward movement of the body is cushioned when it
makes contact with the fully inflated airbag, and the risk of injury to head and
chest is thus reduced.
The head airbags are provided with the lettering marked on the B-pillar
cladding.
Depending on the vehicle equipment, the airbag system consists of the
following parts. ▶ Individual airbags.
▶ Warning light in the instrument cluster
» page 35.
▶ Key switch for the front passenger airbag » page 21.
▶ Warning light for the front passenger airbag in the middle of the dash panel
» page 21 .DE18Safety

Airbag deploymentFig. 8
Inflated airbags
The airbag system is only functional when the ignition is switched on.
When triggered, the airbag fills with gas and unfolds. The inflation of the air- bag is carried out in a fraction of a second.
When the airbag inflates, smoke is released. This is not a sign of a fire in the
vehicle.
Triggering conditions
It is not possible to generally determine which deployment conditions apply to
the airbag system in every situation. The important factors here are the hard-
ness of the object with which the vehicle collides, the angle of impact, vehicle
speed etc.
A decisive factor in the deployment of the airbags is the degree of deceleration
at the time. If the vehicle deceleration which occurs and is measured during
the collision remains below the prescribed reference values specified in the
control unit, the airbags are not deployed although the vehicle may well suffer
severe damage to the bodywork as a consequence of the accident.
The following airbags will be deployed in the event of a severe frontal
collision.
▶ Driver’s front airbag.
▶ Front passenger airbag.
▶ Driver’s knee airbag.
The following airbags will be deployed in the event of a severe side collision.
▶ Front side airbag.
▶ Rear side airbag.
▶ Head airbag.
When an airbag is deployed, the following occurs.
▶ The hazard warning lights are switched on.
▶ All the doors are unlocked.
▶ The fuel supply to the engine is interrupted.
▶ The interior light comes on (if the automatic operation of the interior light is
switched on - switch 
).
When there is no air bag deployment?
With minor frontal and side collisions, rear collision, overturning of the vehicle
or vehicle roll-over there is no airbag deployment.
Safety instructions
Fig. 9
Safe distance from the steering
wheel and dash panel
WARNINGGeneral information■The seat belts and the airbag system can only offer optimum protection
if the driver and passengers are seated properly » page 12 .■
The airbag unleashes enormous force when triggered, which can lead to
serious injuries or fatalities if the driver and passengers are not seated
properly. This applies in particular to children who are transported without
using a suitable child safety seat » page 24.
■
If there is a fault, have the airbag system checked immediately by a spe-
cialist garage. Otherwise, there is a risk of the airbag not being activated in
the event of an accident. 
19Airbag system

WARNING (Continued)■If the airbag has been deployed, the airbag system must then be replaced.■In the area of the front airbag and the knee airbag, the surface of the
steering wheel and the dashboard should be cleaned using only a dry cloth
or one that has been dampened with water.WARNINGInformation about the front airbags■For the driver and front passenger, it is important to maintain a distance
of at least 25 cm to the steering wheel or the panel » Fig. 9 - A
, If you do
not keep this distance, it means that the airbag system cannot protect you
- There is a risk to life! The front seats and the head restraints must always
also be correctly adjusted to match the body size of the occupant.
■
The front passenger airbag must be deactivated if using a rear-facing
child seat on the front passenger seat » page 21, Airbag deactivation . If
this is not done, there is a risk of the child suffering severe or even fatal
injuries if the front passenger airbag is deployed.
■
No other persons, animals or objects should be placed in front of the oc-
cupants in the front seats in the deployment area of the front airbags.
■
The steering wheel and the surface of the dash panel on the passenger
side must not be plastered, covered or modified in any way. No parts (e.g.
cup holders, mobile phone mounts etc.) may be mounted near the airbag
installation points and in the airbag deployment area.
■
Never place objects on the surface of the dash panel on the passenger
side.
WARNINGInformation about knee airbags■Adjust the driver's seat in a forward/back direction so that there is a gap
of at least 10 cm between the legs and the dashboard in the vicinity of the
knee airbag » Fig. 9 - B
. If it is not possible to meet this requirement due to
your body size, visit a specialist garage.
■
The surface of the airbag module in the lower part of the dash panel be-
low the steering column not have stickers attached, be covered or modified
in any other way. Nothing may be attached to the cover of the airbag mod-
ule or located within the immediate vicinity.
■
Do not attach any bulky and heavy objects (bunch of keys etc.) to the igni-
tion key. These can be ejected by the knee airbag when it is deployed and
can cause injuries.
WARNINGInformation on side and head airbags■No objects (e.g. sun visors turned towards the windows) should be loca-
ted in the deployment area of the side and head airbags. No accessories
(e.g. cup holders etc.) should be fitted to the doors - risk of injury!■
Hang only light clothing on the hooks in the vehicle, do not leave any
heavy or sharp objects in the pockets. Do not use hangers to hang up
clothes.
■
The airbag system operates using pressure sensors located in the front
doors. For this reason, no adjustments may be carried out to the doors or
door panels (e.g. installation of additional loudspeakers). Further informa-
tion » page 241 .
■
No excessive force, e.g. through blows, kicks etc. should be applied to the
seat backrests - there is a risk of damage to the side airbags. The side air-
bags would not be deployed in such a case!
■
Any seat or protective covers which you fit to the driver or front passen-
ger seats must only be of a type expressly authorised by ŠKODA AUTO. In
view of the fact that the airbag inflates out of the backrest of the seat, use
of non-approved seat or protective covers would considerably impair the
protective function of the side airbag.
■
Any damage to the original seat covers or stitching at the installation
points for the side airbags should be immediately repaired by a specialist
company.
WARNINGInformation on the use of the airbag system■Any work on the airbag system, including the installation and removal of
system components due to other repair work (e.g. removal of the steering
wheel), must only be carried out by a specialist garage. Further information
» page 241 .■
No changes of any sort should be made to parts of the airbag system, the
front bumper or the bodywork.
■
Do not manipulate individual parts of the airbag system, as this might re-
sult in the airbag being deployed.
20Safety

Airbag deactivation
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Deactivating airbags
21
Deactivating the front passenger airbag
21
Deactivating airbags
The front passenger airbag can be switched off with the key-operated switch
» Fig. 10 on page 21 -
 .
We recommend that you ask a ŠKODA service partner to deactivate any other
airbags as appropriate.
A warning light  indicates that the airbag has been deactivated
» page 35.
Deactivating an airbag should be considered in cases such as the ones
outlined below. ▶ If a child seat must be used on the front passenger seat, where the child is
transported facing towards the rear » page 22.
▶ If not being able to maintain a distance of at least 25 cm between the middle
of the steering wheel and chest, despite the driver's seat being correctly ad-
justed.
▶ If special attachments are required in the area of the steering wheel because
of a physical disability.
▶ If other seats have been installed (e.g. orthopaedic seats without side air-
bags).
WARNINGIf an airbag is deactivated at the time of the vehicle being sold, the pur-
chaser must be informed!Deactivating the front passenger airbagFig. 10
Key-operated switch for the front passenger airbag/warning light
for the front passenger airbag
Switch positions » Fig. 10 -

The front passenger airbag is deactivated - after the ignition is switched
on, the indicator light » Fig. 10
illuminates -

The front passenger airbag is switched on - after switching on the ignition,
the warning light illuminates for 65 seconds 

Switch off
›
Switch off the ignition.
›
Open the storage box on the front passenger's side.
›
Fold the key bit out completely for the radio key » .
›
Carefully insert the key into the key slot in the key switch as far as the stop.
›
Use the key to turn the slot of the key switch carefully into the position
.
›
Pull the key out of the slot in the key switch
» .
›
Close the storage compartment on the front passenger side.
›
Check that the warning light

 lights up after the ignition is switched on.
Switching on
›
Switch off the ignition.
›
Open the storage box on the front passenger's side.
›
Fold the key bit out completely for the radio key » .
›
Carefully insert the key into the key slot in the key switch as far as the stop.
›
Use the key to turn the slot of the key switch carefully into the position
.
›
Pull the key out of the slot in the key switch
» .
›
Close the storage compartment on the front passenger side.
›
Check that the warning light

 lights up after the ignition is switched on. 
21Airbag system

WARNING■The key cannot be inserted into the key switch while driving. Shocks can
cause the key to turn in the slot and trigger the airbag! The airbag could be
triggered unexpectedly in an accident - it may result in injury or death!■
The driver is responsible for whether the airbag is switched on or switch-
ed off.
■
Only switch off the airbag when the ignition is switched off! Otherwise a
fault can occur in the system for deactivating the airbag.
■
If the warning lights 



flash, the front passenger airbag will not
be deployed in the event of an accident! Have the airbag system checked
by a specialist garage immediately.
CAUTION
An insufficiently folded out key bit can damage the key switch!Transporting children safely
Child seat
 Introduction
To reduce the risk of injury in an accident, children should only be transported
in child seats!
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Use of a child seat on the front passenger seat (variant 1)
23
Use of a child seat on the front passenger seat (variant 2)
24
Child safety and the side airbag
24
Classification of child seats
24
Use of child safety seats which are secured using a seat belt
24
Please refer to the instructions in this Owner's Manual and the child seat man-
ufacturer's instructions with regard to the installation and use of the child
seat.
For safety reasons, we recommend that you always transport children in the
rear seats. Only transport a child in the passenger seat in exceptional circum-
stances.
Child seats complying with the ECE-R 44 Economic Commission for Europe
standard must be used.
Child seats that comply with the ECE-R 44 standard have a test seal that can-
not be removed: a large E within a circle with the test number below.
WARNING■ One should never carry children, and also not babies! - on one's lap.■When leaving the vehicle, do not leave children unattended in the vehicle.
In an emergency, they might not be able to get out of the vehicle on their
own or to help themselves. At very high or very low temperatures can be
fatal!■
The child must be secured in the vehicle during the entire travelling time!
Otherwise, in the event of an accident, the child would be thrown through
the vehicle and as a result may suffer fatal injuries, and also injure other oc-
cupants. 
22Safety