2003 SKODA FABIA ESP

Lights and Visibility55
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anceTechnical DataFabia Praktik
– Turn signal for changing lanes - in order to only flash briefly
move the lever up or down to the pressure point and hold it
there.
Turn signal light (left)

– Push the lever downwards.
– Turn signal for changing lanes - in order to only flash briefly move the lever up or down to the pressure point and hold it
there.
Main beam

– Switch on the low beam.
– Push the lever forwards.
– Pull the lever back into the initial position in order to switch the main beam off again.
Headlight flasher

– Pull on the lever of the steering wheel (sprung position) - the main beam and warning light in the instrument cluster come
on.
Parking light

– Switch off the ignition.
– Push the lever up or down - the right-hand or left-hand parking light is switched on.
Information concerning the function of the lights.
•The turn signal system only operates when the ignition is switched
on. The corresponding indicator light  or  in the instrument cluster also
flashes.
•The turn signal is automatically cancelled after negotiating a curve.
•The side light and rear light on the appropriate side of the vehicle are
switched on when the parking light is selected. The parking light function
only operates if the ignition is switched off.
•An acoustic warning signal will sound when the driver's door is opened
if the lever is not in the middle position after removing the ignition key. The
acoustic warning signal will stop just as soon as the driver's door is closed.
Caution
•Use main beam or the headlight flasher only if this does not risk
dazzling other road users.
•Use only in accordance with the legal requirements the described
lighting and signal systems.

Starting-off and Driving
100
Parking aid*
The parking aid provides a warning of obstacles behind
the vehicle.
The audible parking aid determines the distance between the rear bumper
and an obstacle located behind the vehicle with the aid of ultrasound
sensors. The sensors are integrated in the rear bumper.
The parking aid is activated automatically when reverse gear is engaged
and the ignition is turned on. This is confirmed by a brief signal.
The clearance warning begins at a distance of about 160 cm from the
obstacle. The interval between the warning signals becomes shorter as
the clearance is reduced.
A continuous tone sounds from a clearance of just 30 cm - danger area.
You should not reverse any further after this signal sounds.
Note
•The parking aid does not operate if you are towing a trailer (applies to
models which feature a factory-fitted towing device*).
•A system fault is indicated if a warning signal sounds for about 5
seconds after switching the ignition on and engaging reverse gear and there is no obstacle close to your vehicle. Have the fault rectified by a
Škoda dealer.
•The sensors must be kept clean and free of ice to enable the parking
aid to operate properly.
Cruise control system (CCS)*
Introduction
The cruise control system makes it possible for the driver to maintain a
constant speed of his choosing from a speed of 30 km/h or higher. This,
of course, is only possible within the range which is permitted by the
power output and braking power of the engine. Using the cruise control
system - particularly on long journeys - makes it possible for you to rest
your “accelerator foot”.
Caution
Models fitted with a manual gearbox: Always depress the clutch pedal if
you switch on the cruise control system when the gearbox is in Neutral.
The engine will rev up and may even be damaged under certain circum-
stances.
WARNING
•The parking aid is not a substitute for the driver paying proper
attention. It is always the driver's responsibility to take care when
parking the vehicle or carrying out similar manoeuvres.
•You should therefore satisfy yourself, before reversing, that
there is no small obstacle, such as a rock, thin post, trailer drawbar
etc., behind your vehicle. Such an obstacle might not be within the
range detected by the sensors.
WARNING
The cruise control system must not, for safety reasons, be used in
dense traffic or on unfavourable road surfaces (such as icy roads,
slippery roads or loose chippings) - risk of accident!

Automatic gearbox*
104
Selector lever positions
The selector lever position you have engaged is shown in the information
display of the instrument cluster with the corresponding gear symbol high-
lighted ⇒fig. 88. P - Parklock
The driven wheels are locked mechanically in this position.
The Parklock must only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary
⇒.
If you wish to move the selector lever into or out of this position, you must
press the Shiftlock button in the handle of the selector lever and at the
same time depress the brake pedal.
R - Reverse
Reverse gear must only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary and
the engine idling ⇒.
The brake pedal must be depressed and at the same time the Shiftlock
must be pressed, if you wish to obtain the selector lever positions R, P or
N.
The reversing lights come on when the selector lever is moved into posi-
tion R when the ignition is also on .
N - Neutral
The transmission is in Neutral in this position.
The brake pedal must be depressed and the Shiftlock in the selector lever
grip must be pressed (if the selector lever is in its position for longer than
2 seconds) in order to move the selector lever out of the N position, with
the ignition switched on, on a vehicle travelling at less than 5 km/hour or
on a stationary vehicle.
D - Drive, position for driving forward
With the selector lever in this position the forward gears are shifted up and
down automatically in line with engine load, driving style and vehicle
speed.
You must depress the brake pedal ⇒ if you wish to move the selector
lever into position D from N when the vehicle is travelling at less than
5 km/hour or is stationary.
Fig. 87 Selector lever
Fig. 88 Information
display in the instru-
ment cluster Selector
lever positions

Automatic gearbox*107
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down at higher engine speeds than is the case for the economy-oriented
programmes.
Selecting the most appropriate driving programme for the particular style
of driving is a continuous process. Irrespective of this it is, however,
possible to switch into a sporty driving programme by depressing the
accelerator rapidly. The gearbox shifts down into a lower gear matching
the speed of the car and this allows you to accelerate rapidly (e.g. when
overtaking) without having to depress the accelerator pedal fully into the
kickdown range. The original programme will be reactivated to match your
particular style of driving once the gearbox has shifted up again.
When driving in hilly regions, the gears are selected to match uphill and
downhill sections. This avoids the gearbox frequently shifting up and down
when negotiating an uphill stretch. Depressing the brake pedal while
driving downhill causes the gearbox to shift down into the next lower gear.
This makes it possible for you to exploit the engine braking power without
the need for shifting gears manually.
Emergency programme
An emergency programme exists in the event of a fault in
the system.
The gearbox operates in a corresponding emergency programme if there
are functional faults in the gearbox electronics.
•The gearbox still switches automaticallly but stronger switching shocks
are noticeable.
•The gearbox does not switch anymore automatically. The gearbox can
now only be switched manually but there are only 3 gears available over
the selector lever positions namely D, 3 and 2. The 1st gear and reverse
are available as before over the selector lever positions 1 and R. If the gearbox has switched over to emergency mode, drive to the
nearest Škoda dealer in order to have the fault rectified.
Tow-starting and towing vehicle
Tow-starting a vehicle
For technical reasons it is not possible to tow-start a car fitted with an auto-
matic gearbox
⇒page 205.
You can use jump-start cables connected to the battery of another vehicle
for starting your car if the vehicle battery is flat ⇒page 203.
Towing a vehicle
Please pay attention to the following information if it comes necessary to
tow-in your car ⇒page 205.

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.

Airbag system127
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Deactivating an airbag
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 passenger airbag or side airbag (take out of commission).
Have the airbags and also the side airbags deactivated by a Škoda
Dealer.
On Vehicles equipped with the switch for deactivation of the airbags, you
can deactivate the front passenger airbag or the front passenger side
airbag be means of this switch ⇒page 128.
Deactivation of airbags is envisaged only for particular instances,
such as if:
•You must in exceptional cases use a child seat on the front
passenger seat where the child is seated with its back to the direction of
travel (in some countries this must be in the direction of travel due to other
legal regulations applying) ⇒ page 130, “Important safety information on
using 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). Your Škoda dealer will be able to advise you whether national legislation
in your country allows airbags in your vehicle to be deactivated, and which
ones.
Monitoring the airbag system
The functionality of the airbag system is monitored electronically, also
when the airbags have been switched off
An airbag which has been switched off by a Škoda dealer using the
vehicle system tester:
•The airbag indicator light in the instrument cluster lights up for about 3
seconds after switching on the ignition and then flashes after that for about
12 seconds.
Front passenger airbags switched off using the switch for front
passenger airbags* in stowage compartment on the front passenger
side:
•The airbag indicator light in the instrument cluster comes on for about
3 seconds each time the ignition is switched on.
•Switching off airbags is indicated in the middle of the dash panel by the
lighting up of the indicator light   ⇒ page 128.
Note
Your Škoda dealer can provide you with further information regarding the
possibility of deactivating airbags.

Airbag system129
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If the front passenger airbag is
switched on, the airbag warning light
comes on for a few seconds each time the ignition is switched on.
In cases where the front passenger airbag or side passenger airbag is
switched off the airbag indicator light comes on for a few seconds after
switching on the ignition, goes out for about a second and then comes on
again.
There is a system fault present in the airbag switch off ⇒ if the indi-
cator light flashes. Please have the vehicle inspected without delay by
a Škoda dealer.
WARNING
•Only switch off the airbag when the ignition is switched off!
Otherwise a fault can arise on the airbag system which could cause
the airbag to trigger.
•The driver is responsible for whether the airbag is switched on
or switched off.
•If the indicator light flashes:
− There is a risk of the front passenger airbag or the side
passenger airbag not being deployed in the event of an acci-
dent.
− There is the risk, if someone is sitting on the front passenger
seat, that the front passenger will suffer injury if the airbag is
suddenly deployed.

Transporting children safely139
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Note
•Child seats which use the “ISOFIX” system are currently available for
children weighing from 9 up to 18 kg. This corresponds to an age range of
from 9 months to 4 years.
WARNING (continued)
•Ask a Škoda dealer whether a child seat which you bought for
another vehicle is recommended for use in a Skoda before using
an “ISOFIX” system.
•Certain child seats which use the “ISOFIX” system can be
attached with standard three-point seat belts. Please pay close
attention to instructions from the manufacturer of the child safety
seat when installing and removing the seat.