2005 SKODA FABIA brake light

Instruments and Indicator/Warning Lights
36
fluid level has dropped below the “MIN” marking, do not drive any
further - risk of accident! Contact a Škoda dealer to obtain profes-
sional assistance.
•Pay attention to the following instructions ⇒page 191,
“Working in the engine compartment” before checking the brake
fluid level and opening the bonnet.
•If the brake fluid is at the correct level, the ABS control function
has failed. The rear wheels may then block very rapidly when
braking. In certain circumstances, this can result in the rear end of
the car breaking away - risk of skidding! Drive carefully to the
nearest specialist garage and have the fault rectified.
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 OWNER'S 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 . Be aware that not only the ABS but also another part of th brake
system is defective ⇒.
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 OWNER'S MANUAL
For further information on the brake system ⇒page 160, “Brakes”.
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
WARNING
•Pay attention to the following instructions ⇒page 191,
“Working in the engine compartment” before checking the brake
fluid level and opening the bonnet.
•If the brake system warning light  does not go out a few
seconds after switching on the igni tion or comes on when driving,
stop immediately and check the brake fluid in the reservoir
⇒ page 199, “Brake fluid”. If the fluid level has dropped below the
“MIN” marking, do not drive any furt her - risk of accident! Contact
a Škoda dealer to obtain professional assistance.
Airbag system 
Monitoring the airbag system
The warning light
 comes on for a few seconds when the ignition is
switched on.
WARNING (continued)
sqc.1.book Seite 36 Mittwoch, 13. April 2005 1:09 13

Seats and Stowage
74
Pedals
You should use only footmats which do not obstruct the movement of the
pedals and have an anti-slip protection.
We recommend only to use footmats from Škoda genuine accessories
offered by your Škoda dealer.
Operation of the pedals must not be hindered!
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!
Luggage compartment
Loading the luggage compartment
Please observe the following in the interest of having good
handling characteristics of your vehicle:
– Distribute the items of luggage as evenly as possible.
– Place heavy objects as far forward as possible. – Attach the items of luggage to the lashing eyes or the safety
net* ⇒page 75.
In the event of an accident, there is such a high kinetic energy which is
produced by small and light objects that they can cause severe injuries.
The magnitude of the kinetic energy depends on the speed at which the
vehicle is travelling and on the weight of the object. The speed at which
the vehicle is travelling is in this case the more significant factor.
Example: In the event of a frontal collision at a speed of 50 km/h, an unse-
cured object with a weight of 4.5 kg produces an energy, which corre-
sponds to 20 times its own weight. This means that it results in a weight
of approx. 90 kg. You can imagine the injuries that can occur, if this “bullet”
is flying through the interior compartment and hits an occupant.
WARNING
•Store the objects in the luggage compartment and attach them
to the lashing eyes.
•Loose objects in the passenger compartment can be thrown
forward during a sudden manoeuvre or in case of an accident and
can injure the occupants or other oncoming traffic. This risk is still
increased, if the objects which are flying around are hit by a
deployed airbag. In this case, the objects which are thrown back
can injure the occupants - hazard.
•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!
sqc.1.book Seite 74 Mittwoch, 13. April 2005 1:09 13

Starting-off and Driving
104
WARNING
•When driving, the ignition key mu st always be in the ignition
lock in the position (ignition switched on) without the engine
running. This position is indicate d 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 fr om 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 equi pment (e.g. power windows) - risk
of injury!
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.
•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 226.
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 230.
WARNING
•Never run the engine in non ventilated or enclosed areas. The
exhaust gases of the engine contain besides the odorless and
colourless carbon monoxide a poisonous gas - hazard! Carbon
monoxide can cause unconsciousness and death.
•Never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running.
Caution
•The starter may only be operated (ignition key position ), if the
engine is not running. If the starter is immediately operated after switching
off the engine, the starter or the engine can be damaged.
•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.
A2
A3
sqc.1.book Seite 104 Mittwoch, 13. April 2005 1:09 13

Starting-off and Driving
106
WARNING
•Never switch off the engine before the vehicle is stationary - risk
of accident!
•The brake booster only operates when the engine is running.
Greater physical effort for braking is required when engine is
switched off. Because if you do not stop as normal, this can cause
an accident and severe injuries.
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 191, “Working in the engine
compartment”.
Shifting (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.
WARNING
Never engage the reverse gear when driving - risk of accident!
Note
•One should not lay the hand on the shift lever while driving the vehicle.
The pressure of the hand will be transferred to the gearshift forks in the
gearbox. This can, over a period of time, lead to early wear of the gearshift
forks.
Fig. 92 The shift
pattern: 5-speed or 6-
speed manual gearbox
sqc.1.book Seite 106 Mittwoch, 13. April 2005 1:09 13

Starting-off and Driving107
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assist-
anceTechnical DataFabia Praktik
•Depress the clutch pedal fully when changing gears, in order to avoid
unnecessary wear and damage.
Handbrake
Applying the handbrake
– Pull the handbrake lever up fully.
Releasing the handbrake
– Pull the handbrake lever up slightly and at the same time
press in the locking button ⇒fig. 93 .
– Hold the button pressed and push the handbrake lever down fully ⇒ .
The handbrake warning light  lights up when the handbrake is applied,
provided the ignition is on.
A warning signal sounds and the following text appears in the display* if
you have inadvertently driven off with the handbrake applied:
"Handbrake on"
The handbrake warning is activated if you drive at a speed of more than 6
km/h for more than 3 seconds.
WARNING
•Please note that the handbrake must be fully released. A hand-
brake which is only partially released can result in the rear brakes
overheating which will have a nega tive effect on the operation of
the brake system - risk of accident! In addition this can result in
premature wear of the rear brake pads.
•Never leave children unattended in the vehicle. The children
might, for example, release the handbrake or take the vehicle out of
gear. The vehicle might then move off - risk of accident!
Caution
After the car has come to a stop, always first of all apply the handbrake
firmly before then additionally engaging the first gear (manual gearbox) or
moving the selector lever into position P (automatic gearbox).
Fig. 93 Centre
console: Handbrake
sqc.1.book Seite 107 Mittwoch, 13. April 2005 1:09 13

Automatic gearbox*
112
Automatic gearbox*
4-speed automatic gearbox
Information for driving wi th the automatic gearbox
Shifting up and down through the gears is performed auto-
matically.
Starting-off and Driving
– Depress the brake pedal and hold it depressed.
– Press the Shiftlock button (button in handle of the selector lever), move the selector lever into the desired position, e.g. D
⇒ page 113, fig. 96 , and then release the Shiftlock button.
– Wait a moment until the gearbox has shifted (a slight engage- ment nudge can be felt).
– Release the brake pedal and depress the accelerator ⇒.
Stopping for a short time
– The selector lever position N does not have to be selected
when stopping just for a short time, such as at a cross roads.
It is sufficient to hold the vehicle stationary using the foot
brake. The engine can, however, be allowed just to idle.
Parking
– Depress the brake pedal and hold it depressed.
– Apply the handbrake firmly. – Press and Shiftlock button in the selector lever, move the
selector lever to P and then release the Shiftlock button.
The engine can only be started when the selector lever is in position P or
N ⇒ page 104.
It is sufficient to engage selector lever position P when parking on a flat
surface. When parking on a slope you should first apply the handbrake
firmly and then move the selector lever into position P. This is to ensure
that there is no excessive pressure acting on the lock mechanism and that
it is easier to subsequently move the selector lever out of position P.
If the selector lever position N is selected by accident while driving it is first
necessary to release pressure on the accelerator pedal and wait for idling
speed of the engine to be reached before engaging a drive position in the
selector lever.
WARNING
•Do not depress the accelerator when changing the position of
the selector lever if the car is stationary and the engine is running
- risk of accident!
•Never move the selector lever into position R or P when driving
- risk of an accident!
•When the engine is running and the vehicle is stationary, it is
necessary to hold the car with the brake pedal in all the positions
of the selector lever (except P and N) since the power transmission
is never completely interrupted, also not when the engine is idling
- the vehicle "creeps".
sqc.1.book Seite 112 Mittwoch, 13. April 2005 1:09 13

Automatic gearbox*113
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assist-
anceTechnical DataFabia Praktik
Selector lever positions
The selector lever position you have engaged is shown in the information
display of the instrument cluster with the corresponding gear symbol high-
lighted ⇒fig. 97. P - Parklock
The driven wheels are locked mechanically in this position.
The Parklock must only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary
⇒.
If you wish to move the selector lever into or out of this position, you must
press the Shiftlock button in the handle of the selector lever and at the
same time depress the brake pedal.
R - Reverse
Reverse gear must only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary and
the engine idling ⇒.
The brake pedal must be depressed and at the same time the Shiftlock
must be pressed, if you wish to obtain the selector lever positions R, P or
N .
The reversing lights come on when the selector lever is moved into posi-
tion R when the ignition is also on.
N - Neutral
The transmission is in Neutral in this position.
The brake pedal must be depressed (if the lever is in its position for longer
than 2 seconds) in order to move the selector lever out of the position N
into another position, with the ignition switched on, on a vehicle travelling
at less than 5 km/hour or on a stationary vehicle.
D - Drive, position for driving forward
When the selector lever is in this position, the forward gears are shifted up
and down automatically in line with engine load, vehicle speed and the
dynamic shift programme (DSP).
You must depress the brake pedal ⇒ if you wish to move the selector
lever into position D from N when the vehicle is travelling at less than
5 km/hour or is stationary.
Fig. 96 Selector lever
Fig. 97 Information
display in the instru-
ment cluster Selector
lever positions
sqc.1.book Seite 113 Mittwoch, 13. April 2005 1:09 13

Automatic gearbox*115
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assist-
anceTechnical DataFabia Praktik
Selector lever lock
Automatic selector lever lock 
With the ignition on, the selector lever is locked when it is in the positions
P and N. You must depress the brake pedal first and press the Shiftlock
button at the same time in order to move the selector lever out of these
positions. The following will be displayed in the information display*:
P LOCKED (P locked)
or
N LOCKED (N locked)
Symbol
 also lights up in the selector lever cover until the brake pedal
is actuated.
A time delay element ensures that the selector lever is not blocked when
rapidly switching over the position N (e.g. from R to D). This does, for
example, allow one to seesaw out a stuck vehicle. The selector lever lock
will click into place if the lever is in the N position for more than 2 seconds
without the brake pedal being pressed.
The selector lever lock is only active if the vehicle is stationary or moving
at speed of less than 5 km/hour. The lock is switched off automatically into
position N when the car is travelling at a higher speed.
Shiftlock button
The Shiftlock button in the handle of selector lever prevents certain
selector lever positions being engaged inadvertently. The selector lever
lock is cancelled when you press the Shiftlock button.
Kickdown function
The kickdown function provides you with maximum accel-
eration power.
Depressing the accelerator pedal beyond the pressure point casues the
automatic gearbox to shift down into a lower gear (in line with vehicle
speed and engine speed). The gearbox shifts up into the next higher gear
when the engine has reached its maximum revolutions.
WARNING
Please note that using the kickdown function can result in the
driven wheels spinning on a smooth or slippery road surface - risk
of skidding!
Dynamic shift programme
The automatic gearbox of your vehicle is controlled electronically. Shifting
up and down through the gears is performed automatically on the basis of
pre-defined driving programmes.
Adopting a moderate style of driving will cause the gearbox to select the
most economical driving programme. Shifting up into a higher gear as
soon as possible and shifting down as late as possible will have a favour-
able effect on your fuel consumption.
Adopting a sporty style of driving with rapid movements of the acceler-
ator pedal combined with sharp acceleration and frequent changes in
speed, exploiting the top speed of the car or operating the kickdown func-
tion, will cause the gearbox to switch over to the sporty driving
programme. Shifting up later into a higher gear makes it possible to fully
exploit the power reserves of the engine. The gearbox also then shifts
sqc.1.book Seite 115 Mittwoch, 13. April 2005 1:09 13