2003 SKODA FABIA technical data

Lights and Visibility53
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Fog lights* 
Switching on the fog lights 
– First turn the light switch into position  or  ⇒ page 52,
fig. 30 .
– Pull the light switch out to the first notch .
The rear fog light warning light  ⇒ page 27 lights up in the instrument
cluster when the fog light is switched off.
The rear fog light 
– First turn the light switch into position  or  ⇒ page 52,
fig. 30 .
– Pull the light switch out to the second notch .
The rear fog light warning light  ⇒ page 27 lights up in the instrument
cluster when the fog light is switched off.
Only the rear fog light of the trailer lights up automatically when you are
towing a trailer using a factory-fitted towing device which is fitted with
the rear fog light .
The rear fog light is located in the rear light array on the driver's side.
Caution
The rear fog light should only be switched on if visibility is particularly poor
(conform with any varying legal provisions) to avoid dazzling vehicles
behind your vehicle.
Headlight range adjustment 
Once the low beam is switched on you can then adapt the
range of the headlights to the load of the vehicle.
– Turn the control dial ⇒fig. 31 until you have adjusted the
low beam so that oncomi ng traffic is not dazzled.
Settings
The positions correspond approximately to the following vehicle loads:
Front seats occupied, luggage compartment empty.
All seats occupied, luggage compartment empty.
All seats occupied, luggage compartment laden.
Driver seat occupied, luggage compartment laden.
Caution
Set the headlight beam adjustment in such a way as to avoid dazzling
oncoming traffic.
A1
AA
A1
AB
Fig. 31 Dash panel:
Lights and Visibility
A3
A-
A1
A2
A3

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– 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.

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Interior lighting at the rear* (estate vehicle, sedan)
The lights ⇒fig. 35 are actuated by pressing the glass on the symbol ,
O or by switching to the middle position .
The same principles apply for the interior lighting at the rear as for the for
the interior lighting at the front ⇒page 56.
Note
We recommend having these bulbs replaced by a Škoda dealer.
Front door warning light*
The light is located in the door trim panel below ⇒fig. 36 .
The warning light goes on every time the door is opened.
If a door remains open, the battery will discharge.
There is a reflector installed on some vehicles instead of the warning light.
Luggage compartment light*
The lighting comes on automatically when the boot lid is opened. The
luggage compartment lighting will switch off again automatically if the boot
lid remains open for more than about 30 minutes.
Fig. 35 Roof liner light
at the rearFig. 36 Front door
warning light

Lights and Visibility59
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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

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Attaching a wiper blade
– Push the wiper blade over the wiper arm. The securing spring
must click into place audibly.
Windscreen wiper blades in proper condition are essential to obtain good
visibility. Wiper blades should not be allowed to become dirtied by dust,
insect remains and preserving wax.
Juddering or smearing of the wiper blades could be due to wax residues
left on the windscreen by vehicle washing in automatic vehicle wash
systems. It is therefore important to degrease the lips of the winscreen
wiper blades after every pass through an automatic vehicle wash
system .
Replacing the wiper blade on the rear window wiper
Taking off the wiper blade
– Fold the window wiper arm away ⇒fig. 41 .
– Hold the window wiper arm at the top end with one hand.
– Take hold of the wiper blade with the other hand and pull the wiper blade in the direction of arrow .
Attaching a wiper blade
– Interlock the wiper blade into the window wiper arm - see arrow .
The same remarks apply here as for ⇒page 60, “Replacing wiper blades
on the windscreen wipers”.
WARNING
•There is a risk of damage to the windscreen if the windscreen
wiper is used carelessly.
•You should clean the wiper blades regularly with a windscreen
cleaner in order to avoid any smears. Clean a wiper blade with a
sponge or cloth if it is very dirty, for example from insect residues.
•Replace the windscreen wiper blades once or twice a year for
safety reasons. Windscreen wiper blades are available from Škoda
dealers.
Fig. 41 Wiper blade for
the rear window
AA
AB

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

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Head restraintsAdjusting the height of a head restraint
– Grasp the side of the head restraint with both hands and push
it up or down in direction of arrow ⇒fig. 44 . Best protection
is achieved if the top edge of the head restraint is at least at
eye level or higher.
Adjusting the angle of a head restraint*
– The head restraint can be matched to the head of the occu- pant by adjusting the angle in the direction of the arrow
⇒fig. 44 . Adjusting the angle of the head restraint provides
enhanced comfort for the user.
Removing and installing a head restraint
– Pull the head restraint up out of the backrest of the seat as far as the stop (on the rear head restraints fold down the seat
backrest).
– Press the locking button in direction of arrow ⇒fig. 45 and
pull the head restraint out.
– To re-insert the head restraint, push it down into the backrest of the seat far enough until you hear the locking button
engage.
The head restraints on the front seats can be adjusted for tipping angle*
and height. The outer head restraints are not adjustable for height. The
middle head restraints* can be adjusted to two settings ⇒page 66.
The head restraints must be adjusted to match the size of the seat occu-
pant. Correctly adjusted head restraints together with the seat belts offer
effective protection for the occupants.
Fig. 44 Adjusting head
restraint
Fig. 45 Removing a
head restraint
AA
AB

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Front seats
– Heating on the driver's ⇒page 66, fig. 47 and front
pasenger's seat can be switched on and regulated by turning
the control dial as required.
– The system is switched off by turning the control dial to the home position “0”.
Caution
•You should not kneel on the seats and avoid applying pressure at
specific points in order to avoid damaging the heating elements of the seat
heaters.
•Do not clean the seats moist ⇒page 164.
Note
The seat heating should only be switched on when the engine is running.
This has a significant effect of saving on the battery capacity.
Rear seats
Folding the rear seats forwards
Fig. 48 Folding the
rear seats forwards
Fig. 49 Unlock the seat
backrests