2003 SKODA FABIA warning

Lights and Visibility
62
Rear-view mirror
You can adjust the exterior mirrors electrically*.
Adjust the reverse view mirror before commencing to drive so
that there is a clear view to the rear.
Dimming the interior mirror
– Pull the lever on the bottom edge of the mirror toward rear (the
lever on the interior mirror must point forwards in it home posi-
tion).
Heating of the external mirror*
– Turn the rotary knob to position
 ⇒ fig. 42 . Adjusting left and right exterior mirrors*
– Turn the rotary knob to position
. The movement of the mirror
surface is identical to the movement of the rotary knob. The
right hand exterior mirror is adjusted at the same time on vehi-
cles with electrically operated power windows.
Adjusting the right-hand exterior mirror*
– Turn the rotary knob to position
. The movement of the mirror
surface is identical to the movement of the rotary knob.
The exterior mirror heater only operates when the engine is running.
Note
•Do not touch the surface of the exterior mirrors if the exterior mirror
heater is switched on.
•Contact your Škoda dealer if a fault exists with the power setting of the
exterior mirrors.
•You can set the exterior mirrors by hand, if the power setting function
fails at any time, by pressing on the edge of the mirror surface.
Fig. 42 Inner part of
door: Rotary knob
WARNING
Convex (curved outward) or aspherical exterior mirrors increase
the vision field. They do, however, make objects appear smaller in
the mirror. These mirrors are only of limited use, therefore, for esti-
mating distances to the following vehicles.

Seats and Stowage63
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assist-
anceTechnical DataFabia Praktik
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 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
68
The rear seats and the seat backrest can be folded forwards to
increase the volume of the luggage compartment ⇒page 69.
Both parts of the bank can be folded forward individually on vehi-
cles with a divided rear seat*.
Folding the rear seat forwards
– In order to avoid causing any damage when folding the rear seat forward it is important to adjust the front seats so that no
damage can occur when this is done.
– Pull up the rear seats in the direction of arrow ⇒page 67,
fig. 48 and fold forwards in direction of arrow .
– Pull up the unlocking knob on the seat backrest and fold the seat backrest forwards ⇒page 67, fig. 49 .
– Pull the head restraints out of the seat backrest.
– The head restraints can be inserted into the relevant holes of the folded forwards rear seats ⇒fig. 50 .
– Fold the seat backrest forwards completely.
Fold the rear seat back into position
– Install the head restraints in the partially lifted rear seat back- rest.
– Then push the seat backrest back into the upright position until it clicks into place - check by pulling on it.
– Fold the rear seats back into its original position.
Inserting a head restraint in the rear seats
A1
A2
WARNING
•The belt lock and pelvic belt must be in their original position
after folding back the rear seats and seat backrest - they must be
ready to use.
•The seat backrests must be securely interlocked in position so
that no objects in the luggage compartment can slide forward if
there is sudden braking - risk of injury.
•Ensure that the seat backrest on the rear seats is securely inter-
locked in position when the vehicle is fitted with three-point safety
belts for the middle rear seat place. It is only then that the three-
point seat belt can reliably fulfil its function.
Fig. 50 Rear seats:
Head restraint in rear
seats

Seats and Stowage69
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assist-
anceTechnical DataFabia Praktik
– The rear head restraints can be inserted into the relevant
holes of the folded forwards rear seats.
Remove the rear seats
The luggage compar tment can be increased in size by removing
the rear seats
Removing
– Fold the rear seats forwards completely
– Press the wire clamp in the direction of the arrow ⇒fig. 51
and remove the rear seats from its holder.
Installing
– Press the wire clamp in the direction of the arrow and place the seat upholstery in its holder. – Fold the rear seats back into its original position.
Pedals
You should use only footmats which do not obstruct the movement of the
pedals and have an anti-slip protection.
Operation of the pedals must not be hindered!
Luggage compartment
Loading the luggage compartment
Please observe the following in the interest of having good
handling c
haracteristics of your vehicle:
Fig. 51 Remove the
rear seats
WARNING
•Greater pedal distances may be needed when there is a fault in
the brake system.
•Do not place any footmats or other additional floor coverings in
the area of the pedals in order to ensure that all the pedals can be
fully depressed and are able to return unobstructed to their initial
position - risk of accident!
•There must be no objects on the floor which could roll under the
pedals. You would then no longer be able to apply the brakes,
operate the clutch or accelerator - risk of accident!

Seats and Stowage
70
– Distribute the items of luggage as evenly as possible.
– Heavy objects should be transported as near to the rear axle as possible or better still between the axles.
– Attach the items of luggage to the lashing eyes or the safety net* ⇒page 70.
Caution
Please ensure that the heating elements of the rear window heater are not
damaged as a result of objects sliding in this area.
Note
•Tyre pressure must be adjusted to the load ⇒page 187, fig. 135.
Lashing eyes
Eyes are located on the sides of the loading area for lashing the goods to
be loaded ⇒fig. 52 .
You can also attach a securing net* to these eyes for lashing small objects.
The securing net* and the fixing instruction is located in the well under the
floor covering of the lugagge compartment behind the spare wheel.
WARNING
•Please note that the handling properties of your vehicle may be
affected when transporting heavy objects as a result of the
displacement of the centre of gravity. The speed and style of
driving must be adjusted accordingly.
•The items carried in the luggage compartment should be stored
in such a way that no objects are able to slip forward if there are
any sudden driving or braking manoeuvres undertaken - risk of
injury!
•Never drive with the boot lid slightly ajar or even fully opened
otherwise exhaust gases may get into the interior of the vehicle -
risk of poisoning!
•On no account exceed the permissible axle loads and the
permissible gross weight of the vehicle - risk of accident!
WARNING
The load to be transported must be fixed in place in such a way that
it cannot move during the journey and when braking.
Fig. 52 Luggage
compartment: Lashing
eyes

Seats and Stowage
72
The luggage compartment cover*
You can use the luggage compartment cover behind the
rear head restraints for storing light and soft items.
The luggage compartment cover can be removed as required if
one must transport bulky goods.
– Unhook the support straps on the tailgate.
– Place the cover on the side supports.
– Pull the cover to the rear out of the front holders ⇒fig. 55 .
– Install again by pushing it forwards into the holders and hanging the support straps on the tailgate. Caution
Please ensure that the heating elements of the rear window heater are not
damaged as a result of objects placed in this area.
Note
Opening the tailgate also lifts up the luggage compartment cover.
Luggage compartment cover (estate car)
Fig. 55 Removing the
luggage compartment
cover
WARNING
No objects should be placed on the luggage compartment cover,
the vehicle occupants could be endangered if there is sudden
braking or the vehicle collides with something.
Fig. 56 Luggage
compartment: The
luggage compartment
cover