2005 SKODA FABIA sport mode

Seats and Stowage
82
warranty agreements. It is therefore essential to pay attention to the fitting
instructions supplied with the roof luggage rack system.
•On models fitted with a power sliding/tilting roof, ensure that the
opened sliding/tilting roof does not strike any items of luggage transported
on the roof.
•Ensure that the opened tailgate does not collide with the roof load.
For the sake of the environment
The increased aerodynamic drag results in a higher fuel consumption.
One should therefore take off the roof bar system after use.
Note
A roof rail is obtainable from a Skoda dealer if hasn't been fitted onto an
estate car at the works.
Attachment points
Fitting
– Remove the plastic caps ⇒fig. 66 carefully using a thin
screwdriver and while doing so do not damage the paintwork.
– The feet are inserted into the openings of the roof bars. Assembly is described by the manufacturer of the roof
luggage rack system.
Note
•The figure is not valid for an estate car.
•If you have any questions, please contact a Škoda dealer.
Roof load
Distribute weight evenly over the roof luggage rack system. The maximum
permissible roof load (including roof rack system) of 75 kg and the
maximum permissible total weight of the vehicle should not be exceeded.
You cannot make full use of the permissible roof load if you use a roof
luggage rack system with a lower load carrying capacity. The load trans-
ported on the roof luggage rack system must not exceed the weight limit
which is stated in the fitting instructions.
WARNING
•The items which you transport on the roof bar system must be
reliably attached - risk of accident!
•You must on no account exceed the permissible roof load, the
permissible axle loads and the pe rmissible gross weight of your
vehicle - risk of accident!
Fig. 66 Attachment
points for roof bars
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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
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Automatic gearbox*
116
down at higher engine speeds than is the case for the economy-oriented
programmes.
Selecting the most appropriate driving programme for the particular style
of driving is a continuous process. Irrespective of this it is, however,
possible to switch into a sporty driving programme by depressing the
accelerator rapidly. The gearbox shifts down into a lower gear matching
the speed of the car and this allows you to accelerate rapidly (e.g. when
overtaking) without having to depress the accelerator pedal fully into the
kickdown range. The original programme will be reactivated to match your
particular style of driving once the gearbox has shifted up again.
When driving in hilly regions, the gears are selected to match uphill and
downhill sections. This avoids the gearbox frequently shifting up and down
when negotiating an uphill stretch. Depressing the brake pedal while
driving downhill causes the gearbox to shift down into the next lower gear.
This makes it possible for you to exploit the engine braking power without
the need for shifting gears manually.
Emergency programme
An emergency programme exists in the event of a fault in
the system.
The gearbox operates in a corresponding emergency programme if there
are functional faults in the gearbox electronics. This is indicated by all of
the segments in the display lighting up or going out.
•The gearbox still switches automaticallly but stronger switching shocks
are noticeable.
•The gearbox does not switch anymore automatically. The gearbox can
now only be switched manually but there are only 3 gears available over
the selector lever positions namely D, 3 and 2. The 1st gear and reverse
are available as before over the selector lever positions 1 and R. If the gearbox has switched over to emergency mode, drive to the
nearest specialist garage in order to have the fault rectified.
Tow-starting and towing vehicle
Tow-starting a vehicle
It is not possible to tow-start vehicles fitted with automatic gearbox
⇒
page 228.
you can use jump-start cables connected to the battery of another vehicle
for starting your car if the vehicle battery is flat ⇒page 226.
Towing a vehicle
Please pay attention to the following information if it comes necessary to
tow-in your car ⇒page 228.
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Driving and the Environment171
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assist-
anceTechnical DataFabia Praktik
Motoring abroad
General
Other circumstances may exist abroad.
It is also possible, in certain countries, that the Škoda dealership network
is limited or has not been established yet. This is the reason why obtaining
certain spare parts may be somewhat complicated and specialist garage
personnel may only be able to make limited repairs. Škoda Auto in the
Czech Republic and relevant importers are happy to provide information
about technical aspects of the vehicle, required maintenance work and
possibilities for getting repairs done.
Unleaded petrol
A vehicle fitted with a petrol engine must always be refuelled with
unleaded petrol ⇒page 165. The automobile associations can provide
you with information regarding the locations of filling stations which offer
unleaded petrol.
Headlights
The low beam of your headlights is set asymmetrically. It illuminates the
side of the road on which you are driving to a greater extent. If you drive
abroad on the other side of the road, you will dazzle oncoming traffic.
It is necessary in order to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic to stick a sticker
over a certain part of the headlights.
Windscreen wiper stickers are available at Škoda dealers. Headlights with Xenon lamps are designed for driving in countries with
traffic on the right or on the left. Have this done always at a Škoda dealer.
Note
You can obtain further information regarding masking over or converting
the headlights from your Škoda dealer.
Avoiding damage to your vehicle
When driving on poor roads and lanes or when driving over kerbstones,
steep ramps etc., you must pay particular attention to ensuring that any
low-slung parts of the vehicle, such as spoiler and exhaust, do not touch
the ground and get damaged.
This particularly applies to models with a lowered suspension (sport
suspension) and also when your vehicle is fully laden.
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