2003 SKODA FABIA warning lights

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
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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.

Instruments and Indicator/Warning Lights
36
The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
AIRBAG FAULT
The functionality of the airbag system is monitored electronically, also
when the front or side airbags for the front passenger have been
switchged off.
A front passenger airbag and also possibly the side airbag which
have been switched off by a Skoda dealer using the vehicle system
tester:
•The warning light  lights up for 3 seconds after switching on the igni-
tion and then flashes for 12 seconds afterwards in 2 second intervals.
Front passenger airbags and also possibly the side airbag which
have been switched off using the switch (for switching off airbags)*
in the storage compartment on the front passenger side:
•The warning light  comes on for 3 seconds after the ignition has
been switched on.
•Switching off airbags is indicated ⇒page 128 in the middle of the dash
panel by the lighting up of the indicator light   (airbag switched
off).
Note
Further information about switching off airbags ⇒page 127.
Seat belt warning light* 
The warning light  comes on for a few seconds after the ignition is
switched on as a reminder to fasten the seat belt.
If you do not fasten the seat belt, a long warning signal sounds for 6
seconds.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
FASTEN SEATBELT
For further information on the seat belts ⇒page 112.
WARNING
Have the airbag system checked immediately by a Škoda Dealer if
a fault exists. Otherwise, there is a risk of the airbag not being acti-
vated in the event of an accident.

Unlocking and locking41
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Note
•After unlocking the vehicle see, if the securing knobs are located on all
doors at the bottom.
•The vehicle is unlocked automatically if an airbag is deployed.
•Only the front doors can be unlocked and locked using the key if the
central locking system fails.
Unlocking the vehicle using the key
– Turn the key in the lock of the driver's door to the left into the opening position ⇒fig. 22 .
– Pull on the door handle and open the door.
•All doors are unlocked (the securing knobs must move upwards).
•The boot lid is then unlocked.
•The switched on interior lights come on over the door contact.
•The safe securing system is deactivated.
•The windows are opened provided the key is held in the opening posi-
tion.
•The indicator light in the driver's door stops flashing if the vehicle is not
fitted with an anti-theft alarm system* ⇒page 46.
WARNING
•If the vehicle is locked from the outside and the safe securing
system is activated, there must not be any person and animals in
the vehicle as it is then not possible to open either a door or a
window from the inside. The locked doors make it more difficult for
rescuers to get into the vehicle in an emergency - hazard!
•Locking the doors prevents involuntary opening in an excep-
tional situation (an accident). Locked doors prevent unwanted
entry into the vehicle from outside, for example at road crossings.
Locked doors do, however, make it more difficult for rescuers to
get into the vehicle in an emergency.
Fig. 22 Turning the key
for unlocking and
locking the vehicle
AA

Unlocking and locking
42
Note
If the vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft alarm system*, you must
unlock the vehicle by inserting the key into the driver door you then have
to insert the key into the ignition lock and switch the ignition on within 15
seconds after opening the door. The alarm will be triggered if you do not
switch on the ignition within 15 seconds.
Closing the vehicle with the key
– Turn the key in the lock of the driver door to the right into the
closing position ⇒page 41, fig. 22 .
•All doors and the boot lid are locked (the securing knobs must move
downwards).
•The switched on interior lights will switch off over the door contact.
•The windows and the electric sliding/tilting roof* are closed provided
the key is held in the locking position.
•The safe securing system is activated immediately.
•The indicator light in the driver door begins flashing.
The warning light will not flash if the safe securing system is deactivated
⇒ page 40.
This is not the case, however, for vehicles with an anti-theft alarm system*
since the indicator light is showing that the system is active.
Note
The opened driver door cannot be locked. It must be locked separately
after closing it.
Buttons for central locking
All doors are unlocked and locked using the buttons or .
The buttons also operate if the ignition is switched off, but not if
the vehicle was locked from outside.
Locking all doors and the boot lid
– Press button ⇒fig. 23 or press the securing knob
downwards.
Unlocking all doors and the boot lid
– Press button ⇒fig. 23 .
The following applies if you have locked your vehicle using the button :
•It is not possible to open the doors or the boot lid from the outside
(safety feature, e.g. when stopping at traffic lights etc.).
ABFig. 23 Buttons for
central locking
A1A2
A1AA
A2
A1

Unlocking and locking45
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Unlocking the vehicle 
– Press button for about 1 second.
Locking the vehicle

– Press button for about 1 second.
– Press button twice in 2 seconds and the safe securing
system will be deactivated. Further information ⇒page 40.
Unlocking the boot lid

– Press button for about 1 second ⇒page 44, fig. 26 .
Further information ⇒page 43.
Folding out of the key
– Press button .
Folding up of the key
– Press button and collapse the key bit in the housing.
The remote control allows activation of the anti-theft alarm system*
⇒ page 46 and locking of the vehicle or dectivation of the anti-theft alarm
system and unlocking of the vehicle.
The turn signal lights flash twice as confirmation that the vehicle has been
unlocked. The vehicle will lock again automatically if you unlock the
vehicle using button but do not open a door or the boot lid within the
next 30 seconds. This function is intended to prevent the vehicle being
unlocked unintentionally.
The safe securing system along with the anti-theft alarm system* are,
however, deactivated during these 30 seconds.
When the vehicle is unlocked or locked, the interior lights in the door
contact are automatically switched on or off. The turn signal lights flash once to confirm that the vehicle has been
correctly locked.
Note
•Operate the radio remote control only when the doors and boot lid are
closed and you have visual contact with the vehicle.
•Once in the car, you must not press the lock button  of the master key
before inserting the key into the ignition lock in order to avoid the car being
inadvertently locked and, in addition, the anti-theft alarm system* being
switched on. Should this happen, press the unlock button
 of the master
key.
•The remote control is automatically deactivated when the ignition is
switched on.
•The operating range of the remote control is 10 metres but this range
can be reduced if the battery is weak.
Synchronisation of the vehicle key code
If the vehicle cannot be unlocked by actuating the remote control system
then it is possible that the code in the key and the control unit in the vehicle
are no longer synchronised. This can occur when the buttons on the radio-
A1
A2
A2
A4
A3
A3
A1
WARNING
If the vehicle is locked from the outside and the safe securing
system is activated, there must not be any person in the vehicle as
it is then not possible to open either a door or a window from the
inside. The locked doors make it more difficult for rescuers to get
into the vehicle in an emergency - hazard!

Lights and Visibility
52
Lights and Visibility
Lights
Switching lights on and off
Switching on side lights 
– Turn the light switch ⇒fig. 30 into position .
Switching on the low beam and main beam

– Turn the light switch into position .
– Press the main beam lever forward in order to switch on the main beam ⇒page 54, fig. 33 . Switching off all lights O
– Turn the light switch into position O.
Instrument lighting*
– Switch on the headlights.
– Turn the control dial
⇒fig. 30 , until you have set the inten-
sity you require for the instrument lighting.
Low beam comes on only if the ignition is switched on. The low beam is
switched off automatically when the engine is started and after switching
the ignition off; only the side lights come on.
On models fitted with right-hand steering* the position of the switches
differs from that shown in ⇒fig. 30. The symbols which mark the switch
positions are identical, however.
In certain export countries, the low beam is on a reduced brightness as
well as the side lights, when the ignition is switched on.
Note
•An audible warning will sound if you withdraw the ignition key and open
the driver's door when the vehicle lights are still on.
•The acoustic warning signal is switched off over the door contact when
the driver's door is closed (ignition off). The vehicle can be parked with the
side lights on.
•We recommend switching off all lights or leaving only the side lights
switched on if you park the vehicle for a lengthy period.
•The switching on of the described lights should only be undertaken in
accordance with the legal requirements.
Fig. 30 Dash panel:
Light switch
A1
A1
A1
A2

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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