2005 SKODA FABIA Owner's Manual

Heating and air conditioning system
96
You can set the air supply to the individual vents with the air distribution
control ⇒page 93, fig. 85 . Air outlet vents 3 and 4 can also be opened
or closed individually.
Unwarmed or cooled air will flow out of the opened air outlet vents
according to the setting of the control dial ⇒page 93, fig. 85 and
according to atmospheric conditions.
The air conditioning system*
Description
The air conditioning system is a combined cooling and
heating system. It makes it possible to optimally control
the air temperature at any season of the year.
Description of the air conditioning system
It is important for your safety and for your driving comfort that the air condi-
tioning system is operating properly.
The air conditioning system operates when switch ⇒page 97, fig. 87
is pressed and the following conditions are met:
•engine running,
•outside temperature above +5 °C,
•blower switch switched on (positions 1 to 4).
If the air conditioning system is switched on, the temperature and air
humidity drops in the vehicle. The wellbeing of the occupants of the car is
enhanced as a result of this particularly at high outside temperatures and
a high air humidity. The system prevents the windows misting up during
the cold season of the year. The heating effect is dependent upon the coolant temperature, thus full
heat output only occurs when the engine has reached its operating
temperature.
It is possible to briefly activate recirculated air mode in order to enhance
the cooling effect
⇒.
Air at a temperature of about 5°C may flow out of the vents under certain
circumstances when the air conditioning system is operating. Lengthy and
uneven distribution of the air flow out of the vents (in particular at the leg
area) and large differences in temperature, for example when getting out
of the vehicle, can result in chills in sensitive persons.
The air inlet in front of the windscreen must be free of ice, snow or leaves
in order to ensure that the heating and ventilation systems operate prop-
erly.
After switching on the air conditioning Condensation from the evaporator
of the air conditioning may drip down and form a puddle below the vehicle.
This is quite normal and not an indication of a leak!
WARNING
•For your own safety and that of other road users, ensure that all
the windows are free of ice, snow and misting. Please familiarize
yourself about how to correctly operate the heating and ventilation
systems, how to demist and defrost the windows, as well as with
the cooling mode.
•You should not leave recirculated air mode on over a longer
period of time. “Stale air” may result in fatigue in the driver and
passengers, reduce attention levels and also cause the windows to
mist up. The risk of having an accident increases. Switch recircu-
lated air mode off as soon as the windows begin misting up.
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Heating and air conditioning system 97
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assist-
anceTechnical DataFabia Praktik
Note
We recommend that you do not smoke in the vehicle when the recircu-
lating air mode is operating since the smoke which is drawn at the evap-
orator from the interior of the vehicle forms deposits in the evaporator of
the air conditioning system. This produces a permanent odour when the
air conditioning system is operating which can only be eliminated through
considerable effort and expense (replacement of compressor).
Using the system
Setting temperature
– Turn the control dial ⇒fig. 87 to the right in order to
increase the temperature.
– Turn the control dial to the left in order to increase the temperature. Controlling blower
– Turn the blower switch into one of the positions, 1 to 4, in
order to switch the blower on.
– Turn the blower switch into position 0 in order to switch the blower off.
– Pressing switch causes the recirculating air system ⇒page 99 to be switched on.
Control for air distribution
– You can adjust the direction of the inlet air flow ⇒page 100
using air distribution regulator .
Switching air conditioning on/off
– Press the switch . The symbol
 in the switch comes
on.
– When you again press the switch , the air conditioning system is switched off. The symbol
 in the button is no
longer illuminated.
The set temperature will be automatically maintained other than
when the control dial is on the extreme right or extreme left position:
Extreme right position - full heating.
Extreme left position - full cooling.
The controls and can be set to any desired intermediate position.
The blower should aways be on to prevent the windows from misting up.Fig. 87 The air condi-
tioning system:
Controls
AA
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AB
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AD
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Heating and air conditioning system
98
Note
•The whole heat output will be needed to unfrost the windscreen and
side windows. No warm air will be fed to the footwell. This can lead to
restriction of the heating comfort.
•The used air streams out through the air removal openings in the
luggage compartment.
•If the air conditioning system has not been switched on for a lengthy
period, odours may be produced at the evaporator because of deposits.
Switch the air conditioning system on at least once a month for approxi-
mately 5 minutes at the highest blower stage - also during the cold season
of the year - in order to remove such odours. Also open a window for a
short time.
•Please refer to the information regarding recirculated air mode
⇒ page 99.
Setting air conditioning system
Recommended settings of air conditioning controls:
Defrosting the windscreen and side windows
•Turn control dial ⇒ page 97, fig. 87 to the right up to the stop
•Blower switch in position 4
•Turn the air distribution control into the position 
•Close the air outlet vents 3
•Open air outlet vents 4 ⇒ page 100, fig. 88 and point towards the side
window.
Keeping windscreen and side windows demisted
We recommend that you use the following setting in cases where the
windows are misted up more than usual (e.g. when it is raining):
•Blower switch in position 2
•Turn the air distribution control into the position 
•Close the air outlet vents 3
•Open air outlet vents 4 ⇒ page 100, fig. 88 and point towards the side
window.
•Switch on the cooling system by pressing button .
Warming up the inside of the ve hicle as rapidly as possible
•Turn control dial to the right up to the stop
•Blower switch in position 4
•Turn the air distribution control into the position 
•Open the air outlet vents 4
•We recommend pressing button air recirculation mode. The
windows can steam up in this position however.
Heating the vehicle to a comfortable temperature
We recommend the following setting once the windows are no longer
misted up and the desired teperature has been reached:
•Control dial at the desired heat temperature
•Blower switch in position 2 or 3
•Turn the air distribution control into the position 
•Open the air outlet vents 4
•Set the air distribution regulator as required between positions 
and , if the windscreen gets misted up again.
Cooling down the inside of the vehicle as rapidly as possible
•close all windows and the sliding/tilting roof
•Turn the control dial to the left up to the stop
•Blower switch in position 4
•Turn the air distribution control into the position 
•Open the air outlet vents 3 and 4
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Heating and air conditioning system 99
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assist-
anceTechnical DataFabia Praktik
•Switch on the cooling system by pressing button .
•We recommend pressing button air recirculation mode.
Optimum cooling
•Control dial at the desired heat temperature. This temperature will
be maintained automatically.
•Blower switch in position 1, 2 , or 3
•Turn the air distribution control into the position 
•Open the air outlet vents 3 and 4
•Switch on the cooling system by pressing button .
•We recommend setting the air outlet vents 3 and 4 in such a way that
the air flows to the rear over the heads of the occupants. Do not switch to
recirculated air mode.
Fresh air mode - ventilation
Non pre-warmed fresh air streams through the air inlet nozzles 3 and 4 for
the following settings.
•Turn the control dial ⇒page 97, fig. 87 to the left up to the stop
•Blower switch in the desired position
•Turn the air distribution control into the position 
•Open air outlet vents 3 and 4 ⇒ page 100, fig. 88
•Switch off the recirculated air mode by pressing button .
•Switch off the cooling by pressing button
The control dial can be set to other positions as required.
Recirculated air mode
In recirculated air mode air is sucked out of the interior of
the vehicle and then fed back into the interior.
Recirculated air mode prevents polluted air outside the vehicle
from getting into the vehicle, for example when driving through a
tunnel or when standing in a traffic jam.
Switching recircul ated air mode on
– Press button ⇒page 97, fig. 87 , the button symbol

lights up.
Switching recirculated air mode off
– Press button again, the button symbol
 goes out.
Recirculated air mode is switched off automatically if the air distribution
control is in position  ⇒ page 97, fig. 87 . You can also switch recir-
culated air mode on again from this setting by repeatedly pressing button .
WARNING
You should not leave recirculated air mode on over a longer period
of time. “Stale air” may result in fatigue in the driver and passen-
gers, reduce attention levels and also cause the windows to mist
up. The risk of having an accident increases. Switch recirculated
air mode off as soon as the windows begin misting up.
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Heating and air conditioning system
100
Air outlet vents
Fig. 88 Air outlet vents
Open air outlet vents
– Turn the vertical thumbwheel (not when in the end position).
Close air outlet vents
– Turn the vertical thumbwheel into the end position.
Redirecting air flow
– Swivel upward or downward the gril le of the vents in order to
change the direction of the air flow using the vertically
arranged thumbwheel.
– Turn the horizontal thumbwheel on the vent to the right or left in order to change the air flow to the appropriate side.
You can set the air supply to the individual vents with the air distribution
control ⇒page 97, fig. 87 . Air outlet vents 3 and 4 can also be opened
or closed individually.
Unwarmed or cooled air will flow out of the air outlet vents according to the
setting of control dial ⇒page 97, fig. 87 and the atmospheric
conditions.
Using the air conditioning system economically
The compressor on the air conditioning system uses power from the
engine when in cooling mode which will effect the fuel consumption.
It recommended to open the windows or the doors of a vehicle for which
the interior has been strongly heated through the effect of direct sunlight
in order to allow the heated air to escape.
The air conditioning system should not be switched on while travelling
when the window is open.
The desired interior temperature can also be achieved without switching
in the air conditioning system just by switching to fresh air mode.
For the sake of the environment
When you economize on fuel, you also reduce pollutant emissions.
Operational problems
If the cooling system does not operate at outside temperatures higher
than +5°C, there is a problem in the system. The reasons for this may be:
•The fuse on the air conditioning system has blown. Check the fuse,
replace it if necessary ⇒page 232.
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Heating and air conditioning system 101
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assist-
anceTechnical DataFabia Praktik
•The cooling system has switched off automatically for a short time
because the coolant temperature of the engine is too hot ⇒page 14.
If you are not able to rectify the operational problem yourself, or if the
cooling capacity decreases, switch the air conditioning system off.
Contact a specialist garage.
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Starting-off and Driving
102
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 67.
– Pull the lever below the steering column ⇒fig. 89 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.
WARNING
•You must not adjust the steering wheel when the vehicle is
moving!
•The driver must maintain a distance of at least 25 cm to the
steering wheel ⇒fig. 90 . Not maintaining this minimum distance
will mean that the airbag system will not be able to properly protect
you - hazard!
•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!
•If you adjust the steering wheel further towards the head, you
will reduce the protection offered by the driver airbag in the event
of an accident. Check that the steering wheel is aligned to the
chest.
•When driving, hold the steering wheel with both hands firmly on
the outer edge in the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position. Never hold
Fig. 89 Adjustable
steering wheel: Lever
below steering column
Fig. 90 Safe distance
to steering wheel
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Starting-off and Driving103
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assist-
anceTechnical DataFabia Praktik
the steering wheel firmly in the 12 o'clock position or in another
way (e.g. in the middle of the steering wheel or at the inner steering
wheel edge). In such cases, injuries to the arms, the hands and the
head can occur when the driver airbag is deployed.
Ignition lock
Petrol engines
- ignition switched off, engine off
- ignition switched on
- 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.WARNING (continued)
Fig. 91 Ignition lock
positions
A1
A2
A3
A1
A2
A3
A1
A2
A3
A2
A1
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