Deactivating Airbags - Skoda Fabia Owner's Manual

128 Airbag system
Important safety information on the head airbag
Correct use of the airbag system considerably reduces the risk of injury!
WARNING

It is essential to always switch off  page 128 the front passenger airbag
when attaching a child safety seat on the front passenger seat where the child is
seated with its back facing in direction of travel (in some countries also when
the child is facing the direction of travel). 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. In certain countries national legal provisions also require that the
side or head passenger airbags be deactivated. When transporting a child on
the front passenger seat, please comply with the appropriate national regula-
tions regarding the use of child safety seats.

There must not be any objects in the deployment area of the head airbags
which might prevent the airbags from inflating properly.

Only hang light items of clothing on the clothes hooks to the vehicle. Never
leave any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets of the items of clothing.
In addition, it is not permitted to use clothes hangers for hanging up items of
clothing.

There must not be any other persons (e.g. children) or animals between the
car occupant and the deployment area of the head airbag. In addition, none of
the occupants should lean their head out of the window when driving, or
extend their arms and hands out of the window.

The sun visors must not be swivelled to the side windows into the deploy-
ment area of the head airbags if any objects, such as ball-point pens etc. are
attached to them. This might result in injuries to the occupants if the head
airbag is deployed.

Installing impermissible accessories in the area of the head airbags may
considerably impair the protection offered by the head airbag in the event of it
being deployed. When the deployed head airbag is inflated, parts of the acces-
sories fitted may in certain circumstances be thrown into the interior of the car
and cause injuries to the occupants  page 184.

Any work on the head airbag system including installing and removing
system components because of other repair work (e.g. removing headliner)
must only be carried out by a specialist garage.

Deactivating airbags

Deactivating airbags
If any airbags have been deactivated, switch them on again as soon as
possible so that they are able to again provide their proper protection.
There is the technical means installed within your vehicle to switch off the front, side*
or head* airbag (take out of commission).
This is why you should have the deactivation of the airbags carried out by a specialist
garage.
On vehicles equipped with the switch for deactivation of the airbags, you can deacti-
vate the front passenger airbag by means of this switch  page 129.
Deactivation of the airbag is envisaged only for particular instances, such as if:

in exceptional circumstances, it is necessary to use a child safety seat on the front
passenger seat, where the child is seated with its back facing in direction of travel
 page 130, "Important safety information regarding the use of child safety seats";

you are not able to maintain the distance of at least 25 cm between middle of
steering wheel and chest, despite the driver seat being correctly adjusted;

special attachments are required in the area of the steering wheel because of a
physical disability;

you have installed other seats (e.g. orthopaedic seats without side airbags).
Monitoring the airbag system
The functionality of the airbag system is also monitored electronically when one airbag
has been switched off.
If the airbag was switched off using diagnostic equipment:

The airbag indicator light lights up for 3 seconds each time the ignition is switched
on and then flashes after that for about 12 seconds.
If the airbag was switched off using the airbag switch* on the side of the dash
panel:

the airbag indicator light in the instrument cluster comes on for about 3 seconds
each time the ignition is switched on;