2003 SKODA FABIA service indicator

Instruments and Indicator/Warning Lights
34
The fact that the TCS system operates together with the ABS means that
the TCS warning light will also come on if the ABS system is not operating
properly.
Further information about the TCS ⇒ page 142.
Electronic Stability Programme (ESP)* 
The warning light  comes on for a few seconds when the ignition is
switched on.
The traction control system (TCS) is also part of the ESP system.
Components of the ESP system also include the Traction Control System
(TCS), Electronic Differential Lock (EDL), and the Antilock Brake System
ABS (ABS).
The warning light comes on when driving when a control cycle is acti-
vated.
The warning light will come on and remains on if the ESP is switched off
or if there is a fault in the system.
The fact that the ESP system operates together with the ABS means that
the ESP warning light will also come on if the ABS system is not operating
properly.
Further information on the ESP ⇒page 141.
Antilock brake system (ABS)* 
The warning light  shows the functionality of the ABS and the Electronic
Differential Lock (EDL). The warning light comes on for a few seconds after the ignition has been
switched on or when starting the engine. The warning light goes out after
an automatic check sequence has been completed.
A fault in the ABS
The system is not functioning properly if the ABS warning light
 does
not go out a few seconds after switching on the ignition, does not light up
at all or lights up while driving. The vehicle will only be braked by the
normal brake system without the effect of the ABS function. Visit a Skoda
dealer as quickly as possible and adjust your style of driving in the mean-
time since you will not know how great the damage is.
Three additional warning tones will sound if there is a major fault in the
ABS.
Further information about ABS ⇒page 145.
A fault in the entire brake system
If the ABS warning light
 comes on together with the brake system
warning light  (handbrake must be released), there is a fault not only in
the ABS but also in another part of the brake system ⇒.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*: STOP BRAKE FAULT SERVICE MANUAL
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL)*
The EDL is a part of the ABS. A fault in the EDL is indicated by the ABS
warning light
 in the instrument cluster. Have the vehicle inspected
without delay by a Škoda dealer. Further information on the EDL
⇒ page 143.

Instruments and Indicator/Warning Lights35
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assist-
anceTechnical DataFabia Praktik
Brake system 
The warning light  flashes or comes on if the brake fluid level is too low,
if there is a fault in the ABS or if the handbrake is applied.
If the warning light
 flashes (handbrake is not applied), stop and check
the brake fluid level ⇒.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
STOP BRAKE FLUID SERVICE MANUAL
If there is a fault in the ABS which also influences the function of the
normal brake system (e.g. distribution of brake pressure), the ABS
warning light
 comes on together with the brake system warning light . Visit the next Skoda dealer immediately and have the brake system
checked.
3 peeps sound as an additional warning signal.
One should get used to high pedal forces, long braking distances and long
free play of the brake pedal when driving to the next Škoda dealer. The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
STOP BRAKE FAULT SERVICE MANUAL
For further information on the brake system ⇒page 144.
Handbrake applied
The warning light
 also comes on if the handbrake is applied. An audible
warning is also given if you drive the vehicle for at least 3 seconds at a
speed of more than 6 km/h.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
HANDBRAKE ON
Airbag system 
Monitoring the airbag system
The warning light
 comes on for a few seconds when the ignition is
switched on.
There is a fault in the system if the warning light does not go out or comes
on or flashes while driving ⇒. This also applies if the warning light
does not come on when the ignition is switched on.
WARNING
•If the brake system warning light  comes on together with the
ABS warning light  stop the vehicle immediately and check the
brake fluid level in the reservoir ⇒page 179. If the fluid has
dropped below the MIN marking, do not drive any further - risk of
accident! Contact a Škoda dealer to obtain professional assist-
ance.
•Pay attention to the following instructions before checking the
brake fluid level and opening the bonnet ⇒page 172.
WARNING
•Pay attention to the following instructions before checking the
brake fluid level and opening the bonnet ⇒page 172.
•If the brake system warning light  does not go out a few
seconds after switching on the ignition or comes on when driving,
stop immediately and check the brake fluid in the reservoir
⇒ page 179. If the fluid has dropped below the MIN marking, do not
drive any further - risk of accident! Contact a Škoda dealer to
obtain professional assistance.

Inspecting and Replenishing
176
We recommend maintaining the oil level within the range if the engine
has been operating at high loads, for example during a lengthy motorway
trip during the summer months, towing a trailer or negotiating a high
mountain pass, but not above this .
The warning light in the instrument cluster* will indicate ⇒page 32
whether the oil level is too low. In this case, check the oil level as soon as
possible. Top up with an appropriate quantity of oil.
For clarity, the figure shows only part of the engine compartment with a
1.4 litre/74 kW engine ⇒page 175, fig. 127 and a 1.2 litre/40 kW engine
⇒ page 175, fig. 128.
Caution
The oil level must on no account go beyond the range . Danger of
damaging the catalytic converter.
Replenishing engine oil
– Unscrew the cap of the engine oil filler opening
⇒page 175, fig. 128 .
– Pour in a suitable grade of oil in portions of 0.5 litres ⇒page 174, “Engine oil specifications”.
– Inspect the oil level ⇒page 175.
– Carefully screw on the cap of the filler opening and push the dipstick in fully.
Do not continue your journey if for some reason it is not possible under
the conditions prevailing to top up with oil. Switch of the engine and
obtain professional assistance from a Škoda dealer.
For the sake of the environment
The oil level must on no account go beyond the range ⇒page 175. Oil
will otherwise be drawn in through the crankcase ventilation and may pass
through the exhaust system to atmosphere. The oil may combust in the
catalytic converter and damage it.
Changing oil
The engine oil must be changed at the intervals stated in the Service
Schedule or according to the service interval indicator ⇒page 15.
For the sake of the environment
•You must on no account pour oil into the ground or into the sewage
system.
•In view of the problems involved in properly disposing of old oil, the
material, equipment and the knowledge required for such work, we recom-
mend that you have the oil and oil filter change carried out by your Škoda
dealer.
Ac
Ac
AB
WARNING
Avoid dripping oil onto hot parts of the engine when topping up will
oil - a risk of fire!
WARNING
Store old oil in a safe place out of the reach of children until you
can dispose of it properly.
Ac

Inspecting and Replenishing183
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assist-
anceTechnical DataFabia Praktik
Battery with a charge level indicator, the so-called
magic eye*
There is a so-called magic eye on the top of the battery. The “magic eye”
changes its colour in line with the charge state of and electrolyte level in
the battery. The colour serves as an aid to your Škoda dealer in diag-
nosing the condition of the battery.
Knock the “magic eye” carefully before carrying out the check, in order to
remove air bubbles.
•green colour - the battery is adequate
•dark colour - the battery has to be charged
•colourless or yellow - the electrolyte level is too low, no indication
regarding the charge state is possible. The battery must be replenished
with distilled water.
Batteries, which are more than 5 years old, must be replaced. We recom-
mend you have the electrolyte level inspected and adjusted to the correct
level or the battery replaced if necessary by a Škoda dealer.
Inspecting the electrolyte level
The battery is practically maintenance-free under normal operating
conditions, . We do, however, recommend that you have the electrolyte
level inspected from time to time by a Škoda dealer when outside temper-
atures are high or when driving on long trips. You should also check the
electrolyte level ⇒page 184 each time the battery is charged.
The battery acid level will also be checked as part of the Inspection
Service.
Batteries, which are more than 5 years old, must be replaced.
Caution
Do not expose the battery to direct sunlight for lengthy periods in order to
protect it from UV rays.
Operation in winter
The battery has to provide greater amounts of electricity during the winter.
It also has only part of the initial power output at low temperatures that it
has at normal temperatures.
A discharged battery may already freeze at temperatures just below
0°C.
We therefore recommend that you have the battery checked by a Škoda
dealer before the start of the winter, and recharged if necessary.
Fig. 133 Battery with a
charge level indicator

Index229
L
Lashing eyes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Leather care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Lighting of the interior of the vehicle . . . . . . . 56
Lights
Converting/masking over headlights . . . 154
switching them on and off . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Lights and Visibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39, 40
Low beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Luggage compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Luggage compartment door . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
M
Main beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52, 54Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Manual shifting of gears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Memory for the on-board computer . . . . . . . . 17
Mobile phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108, 109
Motoring abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Multi-functional indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
N
Navigation system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Note holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
O
Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Onboard computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Open door Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Operation in winter Biodiesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
De-icing windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
The battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Overview of the engine compartment . . . . . 173
P
Paint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Paint damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Parking aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Parking light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Parking lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Pedals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Power socket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Power steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Power windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Operational problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
R
Rear fog light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Rear seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Rear window heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Rear-view mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Recirculated air mode Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
The air conditioning system . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Refuelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Replacing fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Roof aerial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Running in the car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
S
Safety wheel bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Saving energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Seat belt height adjuster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Seat belt warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Fasten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Height adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Service Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Service Interval Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15