2003 SKODA FABIA steering

Lights and Visibility59
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anceTechnical DataFabia Praktik
The windscreen wiper and washing
system
Windscreen wipers
You can operate the windscreen wipers and automatic
wipe/wash using the windscreen wiper lever.
The windscreen wiper lever ⇒fig. 39 has the following positions:
Finger-operated wiping
– Move the lever down into position if you wish to wipe the windscreen only for a single wipe.
Intermittent wipe
– Move the lever up into notch position . – Set with the switch the desired break between the indi-
vidual wiper strokes
Slow wipe
– Move the lever up into notch position .
Fast wipe
– Move the lever up into notch position .
Automatic wipe/wash for windscreen
– Pull the lever towards the steering wheel into position and the widescreen wiper and wash system will operate - in the
sprung position.
– Release the lever. The windscreen wash system stops and the wiper continues for another 1 - 3 wiper strokes (depending
on the period of spraying of the windscreen).
Wiping the rear window pane*
– Push the lever away from the steering wheel into position - the widescreen wiper will operate every 6 seconds.
Automatic wipe/wash for the rear window pane*
– Push the lever away from the steering wheel into position - the widescreen wiper and wash system will operate - in the
sprung position.
– Letting go of the lever will cause the windscreen wash system to stop and the wiper to continue for another 1 - 3 wiper
strokes (depending on the period of spraying of the wind-
screen). The lever will stay in position after releasing it .
Fig. 39 Windscreen
wiper lever
A4
A1
AA
A2
A3
A5
A6
A7
A6

Seats and Stowage63
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Seats and Stowage
Front seats
Basic information
The front seats have a wide range of different settings and can thus be
matched to the physical characteristics of the driver and front passenger.
Correct adjustment of the seats is particularly important for
•safely and quickly reaching the controls,
•a relaxed, fatigue-free body position,
•achieving the maximum protection offered by the seat belts and
the airbag system.
The chapters which follow describe the procedure which you should adopt
for adjusting the seats.
Adjusting the front seats
Adjusting a seat in a forward/back direction
– Pull the lever ⇒fig. 43 up and push the seat into the
desired position.
WARNING
•Always keep your feet in the footwell when the car is being
driven - never place your feet on the instrument panel or on the
surfaces of the seats. This is particularly important for the front
seat passenger. You will be exposed to increased risk of injury if it
becomes necessary to apply the brake or in the event of an acci-
dent.
•It is important for the driver and front passenger to maintain a
distance of at least 25 cm from the steering wheel or dash panel.
Not maintaining this minimum distance will mean that the airbag
system will not be able to properly protect you - hazard! The front
seats and the head restraints must always also be correctly
adjusted to match the body size of the occupant.
WARNING (continued)
•Ensure that there are no objects in the footwell as any objects
may get behind the pedals during a driving or braking manoeuvre.
You would then no longer be able to operate the clutch, to brake or
accelerate.
Fig. 43 Controls for
adjusting the seat
A1

Seats and Stowage
64
– Release the lever and push the seat further until the lock is heard to engage.
Adjusting height of seat*
– Lift the seat if required by pulling or pumping lever upwards.
– Lower the seat if required by pushing or pumping lever downwards.
Adjusting angle of backrest
– Relieve any pressure on the backrest (do not lean on it) and turn the handwheel to adjust the angle of the backrest.
The driver's seat should be adjusted in such a way that the pedals can be
pressed to the floor with slightly bent legs.
The backrest on the driver's seat should be adjusted in such a way that
the upper point of the steering wheel can be easily reached with slightly
bent arms.
Caution
Vehicles in the Praktik version should not experience contact between the
backrest and the partition wall after adjusting the angle of the backrest
since there is danger of damage to the seat cover through rubbing when
driving.
WARNING
•Only adjust the driver seat when the vehicle is stationary - risk
of injury!
•Take care when adjusting the seat! Adjusting the seat without
care can lead to bruises or injuries.
•The backrests must not be angled too far back when driving
otherwise this will affect proper operation of the seat belts and of
the airbag system - risk of injury!
A1
A2
A2
A3

Seats and Stowage83
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Cooling of storage compartment on front passenger
side*
The storage compartment is for vehicles fitted with an air-
conditioning system with a closable inlet for cooled air.
– You can switch the cooling system on or off using the control
dial ⇒ fig. 71.
Opening the air inlet when the air conditioning system is on causes fresh
or interior air to flow into the storage compartment.
The cooling of the storage compartment operates only if the air condi-
tioning system is switched on. We recommend that you switch off the
cooling (opening concealed) if it is operating in the heating mode or if you
are not using the cooling system for the storage compartment.
Storage compartments on the driver's side
- storage compartment below steering wheel.
The lockable storage compartment is opened by folding down the
cover in the direction of arrow ⇒fig. 72 .
Storage compartment is for vehicles fitted with an air conditioning
system with a closable inlet for thermally prepared air.
The air supply in the storage compartment is regulated through the pull
out cap . Pulling out the end cover in the direction of travel causes the
air inlet to open while pushing it in causes the air inlet to close.
At open air supply, air flows into the storage with a temperature which is
as high as the one out of the air outlet nozzles, depending on temperature
setting.
The air inlet in the storage compartment is connected to position

through adjustment of the control dial for air distribution. This position
causes the maximum amount of air to flow into the storage compartment
(depending on the rotary regulator position for the fan).
Fig. 71 Storage
compartment: Using
cooling system
Fig. 72 Dash panel:
Storage compartments
on the driver's side
AA
AB
AB
AC

Starting-off and Driving95
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Starting-off and Driving
Setting steering wheel position*
You can set the height and the forward/back position of the
steering wheel to the desired position.
– Adjust the driver seat ⇒page 63.
– Pull the lever below the steering column ⇒fig. 82 down
⇒ .
– Set the steering wheel to the desired position (concerning height and forward/back position).
– Then push the lever up against the steering column until it locks into place.
Ignition lock
Petrol engines
- ignition switched off, engine off
- ignition switched on
Fig. 82 Adjustable
steering wheel: Lever
below steering column
WARNING
•Only adjust the steering wheel when the car is stationary!
•For safety reasons the lever must always be firmly pushed up
to avoid the steering wheel altering its position unintentionally
when driving - risk of accident!
Fig. 83 Ignition lock
positions
A1
A2

Starting-off and Driving
96
- start engine
Diesel engines - fuel supply interrupted, ignition switched off, engine off
- heating glow plugs on, ignition switched on
•You should not switch on any major electrical components during the
heating period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
- start engine
Applies to all models:
Position
To lock the steering , with the ignition key withdrawn, turn the steering
wheel until the steering locking pin is heard to engage. You should always
lock the steering as a general rule if you leave your vehicle. This acts as
a deterrent against possible theft of your vehicle ⇒.
Position
Move the steering wheel back and forward a little if the ignition key cannot,
or cannot easily be turned into this position, in order to release the
steering lock.
Position
The engine is started in this position. At the same time switched on low
beam or main beam or other electrical components with major power
consumption are briefly switched off. The ignition key moves back into
position when one releases the key.
The ignition key must be turned back into position each time before
starting the engine again. The starter repeat lock in the ignition lock
prevents the starter being engaged when the engine is running and thus
getting damaged. Ignition key withdrawal lock (automatic gearbox)
You can only withdraw the ignition key after switching off the ignition if the
selector lever is in position
P.
Starting engine
General
You can only start the engine only using an original ignition
key.
•Place the gearshift lever into neutral (or place the selector lever to the
position P or N in the case of an automatic gearbox) and put on the hand-
brake firmly before starting the engine.
A3
A1
A2
A3
A1
A2
A3
A2
A1
WARNING
•When driving, the ignition key must always be in the position
(ignition switched on) without the engine running. This position is
indicated by the warning lights coming on. If this is not the case, it
could result in unexpected locking of the steering wheel - risk of
accident!
•Only remove the ignition key from the ignition lock when the
vehicle has come to a standstill (put on the handbrake or select the
selector lever position P). The steering lock might otherwise
engage unintentionally - risk of accident!
•Always withdraw the ignition key if you are going to leave the
vehicle, even for a short time. This is particularly important if chil-
dren are left in the vehicle. The children might otherwise start the
engine or operate electrical equipment (e.g. power windows) - risk
of injury!
A2

Seat belts113
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The physical principle of a frontal
collision
The physical principle of a frontal accident can be explained quite simply: As soon as the vehicle is moving, so-called kinetic energy (the energy of
motion) is produced both in terms of the car as well as in terms of the
occupants. The magnitude of this kinetic energy depends essentially on
the speed at which the vehicle is travelling and on the weight of the vehicle
and the occupants. The greater the speed and weight increase, the
greater the amount of energy which has to be absorbed in the event of an
accident.
The speed of the vehicle is, nevertheless, the most important factor.
Doubling the speed of the vehicle from 25 km/h up to 50 km/hour
increases the kinetic energy four times.
The common opinion that it is possible to support your body in a minor
accident with your hands, is incorrect. Even in a collision at only a low
speed, the forces acting on the body are such that it is no longer possible
to support your body.
Even if you only drive at a speed within the range from 30 km/hour to 50
km/hour, the forces which are produced on your body in the event of an
accident can easily exceed 10,000 N (Newton). This equals a weight of
one tonne (1.000 kg).
In the event of a frontal collision, occupants of the vehicle not wearing a
seat belt are thrown forward and strike parts of the interior of the vehicle,
such as the steering wheel, dash panel, windscreen in an uncontrolled
manner
⇒fig. 91. The occupants of a vehicle who have not fastened their
seat belts may even be thrown out of the vehicle. This can result in fatal
injuries.
It is also important that rear seat passengers fasten their seat belts as they
will otherwise be thrown through the vehicle in an uncontrolled manner in
the event of an accident. A rear seat passenger who has not fastened the
seat belt is a danger not only to himself but also for those seated at the
front ⇒fig. 92 .
Fig. 91 The driver is
thrown forward if not
wearing a belt
Fig. 92 The rear seat
occupant is thrown
forward if not wearing a
belt

Airbag system
122
Front airbags
Description
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belt!
Vehicles with an airbag system for the driver and front passenger* are
recognisable by the lettering “AIRBAG” on the padded centre of the
steering wheel ⇒ fig. 99 and on the right hand side of the dash panel
⇒ fig. 100 .
The front airbag system, in combination with three-point safety belts,
offers additional protection for the head and chest area of the driver and
front passenger in the event of a frontal collision of major severity ⇒
in “Important safety information regarding the front airbag system” on
page 123.
The airbag is not a substitute for the seat belt, but is part of the complete
passive vehicle safety concept. Please note that an airbag can only
offer you optimal protection in combination with a seat belt which is
fastened. .
Apart from their normal protective function, a further task of the seat belts
is to also hold the driver and front passenger in a correct seated position
in the event of a frontal collision so as to enable the front airbags to offer
the maximum protection.
You should therefore always fasten ⇒ page 112, “Why seat belts?” the
seat belts, not only because this is required by law, but also for safety
reasons and for your own protection.
Note
The dash panel must be replaced after the front passenger airbag has
been deployed.
Fig. 99 Driver airbag in
the steering wheel
Fig. 100 Front
passenger airbag in the
dash panel