2003 SKODA FABIA warning

Automatic gearbox*
106
Selector lever lock
Automatic selector lever lock 
With the ignition on, the selector lever is locked when it is in the positions
P and N. You must depress the brake pedal first and press the Shiftlock
button at the same time in order to move the selector lever out of these
positions. The following will be displayed in the information display*:
P LOCKED
or
N LOCKED
Symbol
 also lights up in the selector lever cover until the brake pedal
is actuated.
A time delay element ensures that the selector lever is not blocked when
rapidly switching over the position N (e.g. from R to D). This does, for
example, allow one to seesaw out a stuck vehicle. The selector lever lock
will click into place if the lever is in the N position for more than 2 seconds
without the brake pedal being pressed.
The selector lever lock is only active if the vehicle is stationary or moving
at speed of less than 5 km/hour. The lock is switched off automatically into
position N when the car is travelling at a higher speed.
Shiftlock button
The Shiftlock button in the handle of selector lever prevents certain
selector lever positions being engaged inadvertently. The selector lever
lock is cancelled when you press the Shiftlock button.
Kickdown function
The kickdown function provides you with maximum accel-
eration power.
Depressing the accelerator pedal beyond the pressure point casues the
automatic gearbox to shift down into a lower gear (in line with vehicle
speed and engine speed). The gearbox shifts up into the next higher gear
when the engine has reached its maximum revolations.
Dynamic shift programme
The automatic gearbox of your vehicle is controlled electronically. Shifting
up and down through the gears is performed automatically on the basis of
pre-defined driving programmes.
Adopting a moderate style of driving will cause the gearbox to select the
most economical driving programme. Shifting up into a higher gear as
soon as possible and shifting down as late as possible will have a favour-
able effect on your fuel consumption.
Adopting a faster style of driving with rapid movements of the acceler-
ator pedal combined with sharp acceleration and frequent changes in
speed, exploiting the top speed of the car or operating the kickdown func-
tion, will cause the gearbox to switch over to the sporty driving
programme. Shifting up later into a higher gear makes it possible to fully
exploit the power reserves of the engine. The gearbox also then shifts
WARNING
Please note that using the kickdown function can result in the
driven wheels spinning on a smooth or slippery road surface - risk
of skidding!

Communication109
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Mobile phones and two-way radio
systems
The installation of mobile phones and two-way radio systems in a vehicle
should generally be undertaken by a Škoda dealer.
Škoda Auto permits the operation of mobile phones and two-way radio
systems with a professionally installed external aerial and a maximum
transmission power of up to 10 watts.
Our Škoda dealers are also happy to inform you about the possibilities
available for installing and operating mobile telephones and radio trans-
mitters which have an output greater than 10 watts. The Škoda dealers
can provide you with details about the technical possibilities for retrofitting
of mobile telephones and radio transmitters.
Operation of mobile phones or two-way radio systems may interfere with
functioning of the electronic systems of your vehicle. The reasons for this
may be:
•no external aerial
•external aerial incorrectly installed
•transmission power greater than 10 watts.
You should therefore not operate a mobile phone or two-way radio
system inside the vehicle without the use of an external aerial, or with
an external aerial which has been incorrectly installed.
You should also note that only an external aerial makes it possible to
achieve the optimal range of such equipment.
Note
Please also refer to the operating instructions of the mobile phones and
two-way radio systems.
The CD changer*
The CD changer for the car radio and navigation system is located under
the front passenger seat. A description of how to change the CD can be
found in the operating instructions for the CD changer.
WARNING
•If a mobile phone or two-way radio system is operated inside
the vehicle without using an external aerial, or with an external
aerial which has been incorrectly installed, the result can be exces-
sive electromagnetic fields which may cause harm to your health.
•Please always pay full attention to the traffic situation around
you!
•You must not install two-way radio systems, mobile phones or
mounts on the covers of the airbags or within the immediate
deployment range of airbags. This might result in injuries to the
occupants in the event of an accident.

Passive Safety111
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Safety
Passive Safety
Driving the safe way
Passive safety measures reduce the risk of injury in acci-
dent situations.
In this section you will find important information, tips and notes on the
subject of passive safety in your vehicle. We have combined everything
here which you should be familiar with, for example, regarding seat belts,
airbags, child seats and safety of children. It is therefore important, in
particular, to comply with the notes and warnings in this section for your
own interest and in the interest of all those travelling with you.
The information provided in this section applies to all models of your type
of vehicle. It is also possible that equipment is described here which does
not necessarily apply to your vehicle.
Requirements for maximum safety
It is important that you comply with the following requirements in order to
ensure that the seat belts and the airbag systems offer you and the occu-
pants of your vehicle maximum protection:
•front seats correctly adjusted ⇒page 63
•head restraints adjusted to match your body size ⇒page 65
•seat belts correctly fastened and adjusted ⇒page 115
•adopting a correct seated position
WARNING
Please do not forget to give the new owner the complete vehicle
documentation, if you sell your vehicle, including the service
schedule and documents relating to the possible deactivation of
airbags.

Seat belts
112
Seat belts
Why seat belts?
It is a proven fact that seat belts offer good protection in accidents
⇒ fig. 90. Thus wearing a seat belt is a legal requirement in most coun-
tries.
Seat belts which have been correctly fastened and adjusted hold the
occupants of the car in the correct seated position ⇒fig. 90 . The belts
reduce the kinetic energy (energy of motion) to a considerable extent.
They also prevent uncontrolled movements which, in turn, may well result
in severe injuries.
The occupants of a vehicle who have fastened and correctly adjusted their
seat belt, profit to a major extent from the fact that the kinetic energy is
optimally absorbed by the belts. The structure of the front end of the
vehicle and other passive safety measures, such as the airbag system,
also contribute to reducing the kinetic energy. The energy produced is
thus absorbed and there is less risk of injury. Accident statistics prove that seat belts which are fastened and properly
adjusted reduce the risk of an injury and enhance the chance of survival
in a major accident
⇒page 113.
It is important that you pay attention to safety measures, particularly when
transporting children in the vehicle ⇒page 130, “Transporting children
safely”.
Note
Please comply with any differing legal requirements when using the seat
belts.
Fig. 90 Driver wearing
seat belt (a basic illus-
tration)
WARNING
•Fasten your seat belt each time before setting off, also when
driving in town! This also applies to the people seated at the rear -
risk of injury!
•Expectant women must also always wear a seat belt. This is the
only way of ensuring optimal protection for the unborn child
⇒ page 115.
•It is important for the belt webbing to be properly routed if the
seat belts are to offer the maximum protection. You can see a
description of how safety belts should be fitted properly on the
next pages.

Seat belts
114
Important safety information regarding
the use of seat belts
The correct use of the seat belts considerably reduces the
risk of injury!
WARNING
•The belt webbing must not be jammed in-between at any point
or twisted, or chafe against any sharp edges.
•No two persons (also not children) should ever use a single
seat belt together.
•The maximum protection which seat belts can offer is only
achieved if you are correctly seated ⇒page 63.
•The belt webbing must not run across solid or fragile objects
(e.g. spectacles, ball-point pens, keys etc.) as this may be a cause
of injuries.
•Bulky, loose clothing (e.g. a winter coat over a jacket) does not
allow you to be correctly seated and impairs proper operation of
the seat belts.
•It is prohibited to use clamps or other objects to adjust seat
belts (e.g. for shortening the belts for smaller persons).
•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.
•The backrests of the front seats must not be tilted too far to the
rear otherwise the seatbelts can lose their effectiveness.
•The belt webbing must always be kept clean. Soiled belt
webbing may impair proper operation of the inertia reel
⇒ page 165.
WARNING (continued)
•The slot of the belt tongue must not be blocked by paper or
similar objects otherwise the belt tongue will not lock in place
properly.
•Damaged seat belts which have been subjected to stress in an
accident and were therefore stretched, must be replaced - this is
best done by a Škoda dealer. The anchorage points of the belts
must also be inspected. The anchorage points for the belts should
also be checked.
•In certain export countries it is possible to use seat belts which
differ in terms of their operation from the inertia reel and lap belts
which are described on the pages which follow.

Seat belts115
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How are seat belts correctly fastened?
Fastening a three-point seat belt
Fasten your seat belt before starting!
– Correctly adjust the front seat and the head restraint before
fastening your seat belt ⇒page 63.
– Slowly pull the belt webbing at the tongue of the lock over your chest and pelvis ⇒.
– Insert the tongue of the lock into the seat belt buckle belonging
to the seat until it is heard to lock in place.
– Pull on the belt to check that it has also reliably engaged in the lock.
Each three-point seat belt is equipped with an inertia reel. This inertia reel
offers you complete freedom of movement if the belt is unreeled slowly. If
the brakes are applied suddenly, the inertia reel will block. It also blocks
the seat belts when the vehicle accelerates, is driving uphill, is in a tilted
position and when cornering.
Expectant mothers must also wear the seat belt ⇒.
Fig. 93 Routing of
webbing over the
shoulders and the lap
belt
Fig. 94 Routing of belt
webbing for an
expectant mother
WARNING
•The shoulder part of the seat belt must never run across your
neck but must run approximately over the middle of the shoulder
and fit snugly against the chest. The lap part of the belt must run
across the hip and must never be routed across the stomach. It
must always fit snugly ⇒fig. 93 . Adjust the belt webbing as
required.
•The lap part of the belt should be positioned as low as possible
at the pelvis of an expectant mother in order to avoid exerting any
pressure on the lower abdomen.
•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.

Seat belts
116
Seat belt height adjuster
The seat belt height adjuster makes it possible for you to adapt
the routing of the three-point seat belt in the area of the shoulder
to match your body size.
– To adjust the belt height press the height adjuster and move it
up or down ⇒fig. 95 . – Then pull firmly on the belt to ensure that the seat belt height
adjuster has correctly locked in place.
Note
It is also possible to adapt the routing of the belt webbing on the front seats
by adjusting the height of the seat*.
Taking seat belts off
WARNING (continued)
•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.
•Only insert the lock tongue into the lock which is the correct
one for your seat. This will affect the protection which the belt
offers and increase the risk of an injury.
Fig. 95 Front seat:
Seat belt height
adjuster
WARNING
Adjust the height of the belt in such a way that the shoulder part of
the belt is positioned approximately across the middle of your
shoulder - on no account across your neck.
Fig. 96 Releasing lock
tongue from belt lock

Seat belts
118
Three-point safety belt for the middle rear seat*
It is used in the same way as the normal three-point seat belts on the left
and right (at front and rear). The middle three-point seat belt must be put
on first to allow the pelvic part of the belt to be pulled through between the
belt lock for the right three-point seat belt and the backrest, while avoiding
crossing the belt webbing of the middle and side seat belts.
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. The fastened three-point seat belts are automatically tensioned in the
event of a frontal collision of a certain severity. On vehicles fitted with side
airbags, a seat belt which is not fastened is also tensioned.
The belt tensioner is deployed in the event of a frontal collision of major
severity. A powder charge is ignited in the inertia reels during deployment.
The belt webbing is pulled into the inertia reels by a mechanical system
and the belt is tensioned.
Belt tensioners are not activated in the event of minor frontal collisions,
side and rear-end collisions, in the case of a rollover and also not in acci-
dents in which no major forces are produced from the front.
Note
•Smoke is generated when the belt tensioners are deployed. This is not
an indication of a fire in the vehicle.
•It is essential to pay attention to relevant safety regulations if the
vehicle or individual parts of the system are scrapped. Škoda dealers are
familiar with these regulations and will be able to provide you with detailed
information in this respect.
WARNING
•The pelvic belt must always sit firmly across the pelvis; tighten
the belt webbing if necessary.
•An unused pelvic belt should be stowed away together with the
lock for safety reasons.
WARNING
The three-point safety belt for the middle of the rear seat can only
fulfil its function reliably when the backrests of the rear seats are
correctly locked into position ⇒page 29.
WARNING
•The service life of seat belts and belt tensioners is 15 years from
the date of manufacture of the vehicle. It is then necessary to have
the seat belts replaced by a Škoda dealer.
•Any work on the belt tightener system, including removal and
installation of system components because of other repair work,
must only be carried out by Škoda dealer.
•The protective function of the system is only adequate for a
single accident. If the belt tensioners have been deployed, it is then
necessary to replace the entire system.
•The Owner's Manual must also be handed over to the new
owner if the vehicle is sold.