2003 SKODA FABIA ignition

Lights and Visibility
56
Interior lighting
Front interior lighting and storage compartment on
front passenger side
Door contact switching mechanism (on the front and rear*
door)
– Press the switch ⇒fig. 34 to the right into position
.
Switching the interior light on
– Press the switch to the left into position
.
Switching the interior light off
– Press the switch into the middle position O.Reading lights
\b
– Press on one of the switches in order to switch the right or
left reading light on or off.
Lighting of storage compartment on the front passenger
side
– Open the flap of the storage compartment on the front passenger side.
– The light switches on automatically when the parking light is switched on and goes out when the flap is closed.
The interior light is switched on for about 20 seconds when a vehicle with
a central locking system is unlocked, when a door is opened or when the
ignition key is removed. The requirement for this is that the switch is in the
door contact position. The inner light goes out out immediately after the
ignition is switched on.
A time delay switch* causes the inner lighting on vehicles without a central
locking system stays on for a few seconds after the doors have been
closed. The inner light goes out out immediately after the ignition is
switched on.
The interior lighting is switched off after about 30 minutes when a door has
been left open in order to avoid discharging the battery of the vehicle.
Fig. 34 Detail of the
headliner: front interior
lighting
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AA
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Lights and Visibility
60
Switching windscreen wipers off
– Move the lever back into its home position .
The windscreen wipers and the windscreen washer system only operate
if the ignition is switched on.
The rear window will be wiped again if the window wipers are on when
reverse gear is selected.
The windscreen washer nozzles are heated* when the ignition is switched
on.
Top up with wash liquid ⇒page 185.
Caution
In frosty weather, please first of all check whether the windscreen wiper
blades are not frozen to the windscreen before switching them on.
Switching on windscreen wipers when the blades are frozen to the wind-
screen may result in damage both to the blades and the motor of the wind-
screen wipers!
Headlight cleaning system*
Washing of the headlights lenses occurs for approximately 1 second
about 3 seconds after movement of the lever into position ⇒page 59,
fig. 39. You should remove stubborn dirt (such as insect residues) from the head-
light lenses at regular intervals, for example when refuelling. Please refer
to the notes
⇒page 162.
You should remove any snow from the fixtures of the washer nozzles and
clear ice in winter with a de-icing spray in order to ensure proper operation
of the cleaning system.
Replacing wiper blades on the windscreen wipers
Taking off the wiper blade
– Fold windscreen wiper arm away from the windscreen and position the wiper blade at right angles to the wiper arm
⇒fig. 40 .
– Press the securing spring in the direction of arrow and press the wiper blade at the same time in the direction of arrow ⇒ .
WARNING
Properly maintained windscreen wiper blades are essential for
clear visibility and safe driving ⇒page 60.
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Fig. 40 Wiper blades
for the windscreen
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Seats and Stowage
66
Caution
Vehicles in the Praktik version should not experience contact between the
head restraint cover and the partition wall after adjusting the head
restraints since there is danger of damage to the seat cover through
rubbing when driving.
Middle rear head restraints*
The middle rear head restraints can be adjusted to two settings, the upper
one and the lower one. The upper setting is interlocked into place. You must always press the securing button
⇒fig. 46 when removing the
head restraint and when pushing it out of the upper setting into the lower
setting.
Heating the front seats*
The seating and leaning surfaces of the front seats can be heated
when the ignition is switched on.
WARNING
The head restraints must be correctly adjusted in order to offer
effective protection to the occupants in the event of an accident.
Fig. 46 Rear seats: the
position of the middle
rear head restraints
WARNING
The head restraint on the middle rear seat must always be in the
upper locked position when someone is sitting there.
Fig. 47 Dash panel:
Control dial for heating
the front seats

Seats and Stowage
80
Cigarette lighter* and power socket*
Cigarette lighter
You can also use the socket on the cigarette lighter for
other electrical appliances.
Using the cigarette lighter
– Press in the button of the cigarette lighter ⇒fig. 67 .
– Wait until the button jumps forward.
– Remove the cigarette lighter immediately and use it.
– Insert the cigarette lighter again into the socket.
Using the power socket
– Take out the cigarette lighter. – Insert the plug of the electrical appliance into the socket of the
cigarette lighter.
The 12 volt power socket or the lighter holder can also be used for further
electrical appliance with a power uptake of up to 180 watts.
Caution
Only use matching plugs, which fulfils the DIN - ISO Standard 4165, to
avoid damaging the power sockets.
Note
Connecting electrical components when the engine is not running
will drain the battery of the vehicle - risk of battery draining!
Fig. 67 Centre
console: Cigarette
lighter
WARNING
•Take care when using the cigarette lighter! Not paying proper
attention or incorrect use the cigarette lighter in an uncontrolled
manner may result in burns.
•The cigarette lighter and the power socket also operates when
the ignition is switched off or the ignition key withdrawn. This is
why you should never leave children unattended in the vehicle.

Starting-off and Driving95
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assist-
anceTechnical DataFabia Praktik
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
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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.
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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!
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Starting-off and Driving97
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assist-
anceTechnical DataFabia Praktik
•The clutch pedal should be fully depressed when starting the engine
which means that the starter only has to crank the engine.
•Let go of the key as soon as the engine starts otherwise there may be
damage to the starter.
The engine running noises may louder at first be louder for a short time
after starting the cold engine until oil pressure can be built up in the
hydraulic valve clearance compensation. This is quite normal and is not
an operating problem.
If the engine does not start ...
You can use the battery of another vehicle as a jump-start aid
⇒ page 203.
It is only possible to tow-start vehicles fitted with a manual gearbox. The
tow-starting distance must not be more than 50 metres ⇒page 207.
Caution
•Avoid high engine revolutions, full throttle and high engine loads as
long as the engine has not yet reached its normal operating temperature
- risk of damaging the engine!
•Vehicles which are fitted with an exhaust gas catalytic converter
should not be tow-started over a distance of more than 50 metres.
For the sake of the environment
Never warm up the engine when the vehicle is standing. Drive off right
away. This enables you to avoid unnecessary pollutant emissions.
Petrol engines
These engines are fitted with a starter system which selects the correct
fuel/air mixture for every external air temperature.
•Do not operate the accelerator before and when starting engine if the
engine is cold or at normal operating temperature.
•Interrupt the attempt at starting after 10 seconds if the engine does not
start right awayand wait for about 30 seconds before repeating the
attempt.
•It is possible that the fuse on the electrical fuel pump is defect if the
engine still does not start ⇒page 209.
Contact the nearest Škoda dealer to obtain professional assistance.
•It may be necessary, if the engine is very hot, to slightly depress the
accelerator after the engine has started.
Diesel engines
Glow plug system
Diesel engines are equipped with a glow plug system, the preglow period
being controlled automatically in line with the coolant temperature and
outside temperature.
The preglow indicator light
 comes on after the ignition has been
switched on.
You should not switch on any major electrical components during
the heating period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained
unnecessarily.
•You should start the engine immediately after the glow plug warning
light  has gone out.
WARNING
There is the danger of poisoning if the engine is left running in an
enclosed space!

Starting-off and Driving
98
•The glow plug warning light will come on for about one second if the
engine is at a normal operating temperature or if the outside temperature
is above +5°C. This means that you can start the engine right away.
•Interrupt the attempt at starting after 10 seconds if the engine does not
start right awayand wait for about 30 seconds before repeating the
attempt.
•It is possible that the fuse on the diesel preglow system is defect if the
engine still does not start ⇒page 209.
Contact the nearest Škoda dealer to obtain professional assistance.
Starting the engine after the fuel tank has run dry
It may take longer than normal to start the engine after refuelling if the fuel
tank has run completely dry - up to one minute. This is because the fuel
system must first of all be filled while the attempting to start the engine.
Switching the engine off
– The engine can be switched off by turning the ignition key from position ⇒page 95, fig. 83 into position .
Caution
you should not switch the engine off right away at the end of your journey
after the engine has been operated for a lengthy period at high loads but
should be allowed it to run at idling speed for about 2 minutes. This
prevents any accumulation of heat when the engine is switched off.
Note
•The radiator fan may continue running for a further 10 minutes or so
after the engine and the ignition have been switched off. The coolant fan
may, however, also switch on again after some time if the coolant temper- ature rises because of an accumulation of heat in the engine or if the
engine is warm and the engine compartment is additionally heated by
strong sunlight.
•This is why particular care is required when carrying out any work in
the engine compartment ⇒ page 172, “Working in the engine
compartment”.
Shifting gear ( on a manual gearbox)
Shift into reverse only when the car is stationary. Depress the clutch pedal
and hold it fully depressed. Wait a moment before engaging reverse gear
in order to avoid any shift noises.
The reversing lights will come on once reverse gear is engaged, provided
the ignition is on.
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Fig. 84 The shift
pattern 5-speed or 6-
speed manual gearbox