2006 SKODA FABIA Owner's Manual

Automatic gearbox112
Automatic gearbox
6-speed automatic gearbox*
Introduction
Your car is equipped with an electronically controlled 6-speed automatic gearbox. Shifting up and also down through the gears is performed automati-cally.
At the same time this is a conventional automatic gearbox. The maximum speed is reached in the 5th gear. The 6th gear serves as an economic driving programme, which is intended to reduce the fuel consumption.
Information for driving with an automatic gearbox
Shifting up and down through the gears is performed auto-
matically.
You can also, however, switch the gearbox over into the Tiptronic
mode . This mode makes it possible for you to also shift gears manu-
ally ⇒page 116.
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, and then release the Shiftlock button.
– Wait a moment until the gearbox ha s shifted (a slight engagement
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
s t o p p i n g j u s t fo r a s h o r t t i m e , s u c h a s a t a c ro s s ro a d s . I t i s s u f f i c i e n t
to hold the vehicle stationary usin g 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 105.
It is sufficient to engage selector lever position P when parking on a flat surface. When parking on a slope you should firs t apply the handbrake firmly and then move the selector lever into position P. This is to ensure that there is no exces- sive 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 acce lerator pedal and wait for idling speed of the engine to be reached before enga ging a drive position in the selector lever.
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Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
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 neces- sary 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".
Selector lever positionsThe selector lever position you have engaged is shown in the information display of the instrument cluster with the corresponding gear symbol high- lighted ⇒fig. 95. In the positions D and S the gear you have already engaged will be additionally displayed on the display.
P - Parklock
The driven wheels are locked me chanically in this position.
The Parklock must only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary ⇒.
If you wish to move the sele ctor 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.
Fig. 94 Selector lever
Fig. 95 Information display: Selector lever positions
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Automatic gearbox114
When the ignition is switched on and the selector lever is in position R, the reverse lights will come 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 se lector lever out of the position N into the position D, with the ignition switched on, on a vehicle travelling at less than 5 km/hour or on a stationary vehicle.
The brake pedal must be depressed (if the lever is in its position for longer than 2 seconds) in order to move the se lector lever out of the position N into the position R, 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 engi ne load, vehicle speed and the dynamic shift programme.
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.
In certain circumstances (e.g. when driving in mountainous regions or when towing a trailer) it may be beneficial to select the manual shift programme ⇒ page 116 for a short time in order to adapt the gearbox ratios manually to the driving situations.
S - Position for sporty style of driving
Shifting up later into a higher gear make s it possible to fully exploit the power potential of the engine. The gearbox also then shifts down at higher engine speeds as in the position D.
The gearbox does not shift into the 6th gear in the position S, because the maximum speed is achieved with the 5th gear.
The Shiftlock on the selector lever grip must be pressed when moving the selector lever out of the position D into the position S.
WARNING
•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 neces- sary to hold the car with the brak e 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".
•You must on no account unintentionally operate the throttle (e.g. by hand from the engine compartment) if a drive position is engaged when the car is stationary. The vehicle wo uld otherwise immediately start off - also when the handbrake is firmly applied - risk of an accident!
•You must move the selector lever into position P and firmly apply the handbrake first before you or any other person opens the bonnet and starts working on the engine when it is running - risk of accident! It is also essential to observe all warnings ⇒page 198, “Working in the engine compartment”.
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 first of all depress the brake pedal in order to move the selector lever out of this position. The warning light  ⇒page 33 lights up in the instru- ment cluster as a reminder for the driver when the selector lever is in position P and N:
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
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Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
one to seesaw out a stuck vehicle. The sele ctor 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 posi- tion 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 accelera-
tion power.
Depressing the accelerator pedal allows th e kickdown function to be activated in the desired driving program. This function has precedence over the driving programme and serves for maximum a cceleration of the vehicle when exploiting the maximum power potential of the engine without taking into account the current selector lever position ( D, S or Tiptronic). The gearbox shifts down to one or several gears in line with the driving state and the vehicle accelerates. The gearbox does not shift up into the highest gear until the engine has reached its maximum revolutions for this gear range.
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 performe d 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 favourable effect on your fuel consumption.
Adopting a sporty style of driving with rapid movements of the accelerator pedal combined with sharp accelerati on and frequent changes in speed, exploiting the top speed of the car or depressing the accelerator pedal (kick- down function), will cause the gearbox to sw itch over to this style of driving and shift down earlier with frequent changes in gears in comparison to the moderate style of driving.
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 or shift down into a dynamic sh ift programme by depressing the accel- erator 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 fu lly into the kickdown range. The orig- inal programme will be reactivated to ma tch 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 down- hill sections. This avoids the gearbox fr equently shifting up and down when negotiating an uphill stretch. When driving downhill, it is possible to shift down into the Tiptronic position, in order to exploit the engine brake torque.
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Tiptronic
The Tiptronic allows the driver to also shift gears manually.
Switching over to manual shifting
– Push the selector lever to the right out of position D. As soon as the
gearbox has switched over, 6 5 4 3 2 1 appears in the display, with
the gear engaged being highlighted.
Shifting up gears
– One-touch forward of the selector lever (in the Tiptronic position)
⇒ fig. 96 .
Shifting down gears
– One-touch back of the selector lever (in the Tiptronic position) .
It is possible to switch over to manual both when the car is stationary and also when driving.
When you accelerate, the gearbox shifts up automatically in gears 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 into the next higher gear just before the maximum permissible engine speed is reached.
If you select a lower gear, the automatic gearbox does not shift down until there is no risk of the engine overrevving.
If you operate the kickdown function, the ge arbox shifts into a lower gear in line with the vehicle speed and engine speed.
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.
Fig. 96 Selector lever: Manual shifting of gears
Fig. 97 Information display: Manual shifting of gears
A+
A-
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Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
It is possible to continue to move the selector lever into all the positions. In the positions D and S the gearbox remains engaged in the 3rd gear. It is also possible to continue to engage reverse gear in the position R.
The manual shift programme (Tiptronic) is switched off in the emergency mode.
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 or push-start vehicles fitted with automatic gearbox.
you can use jump-start cables connected to the battery of another vehicle for starting your car if the vehicle battery is flat ⇒page 229.
Towing a vehicle
Please pay attention to the following in formation if it comes necessary to tow- in your car ⇒page 231.
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Communication118
Communication
Operating the radio
The driver can set the basic functions of the radio system by simply operating the buttons on the multi-functional modu le* behind the steering wheel so that he can concentrate on the traffic situation without being distracted as little as possible by operating the radio system ⇒fig. 98.
This applies only if your radio equipment has been installed at the factory. You can of course operate the radio system at the appliance. You will find a descrip- tion in the operating instructions of your radio system.
By pressing the buttons, you can ca rry out the following functions:
The buttons apply for the respective operating mode of the current radio system.
Note
The loudspeakers in the vehicle are matched to a power output of 30 W.
Fig. 98 Multi-functional module: Buttons for the operation of the radio
ButtonRadioCD
Thumbwheel for stored transmitter
forward 
back 
Title search
forward
back 
Increase volume  
Decrease volume  
Frequency search back Reading the
previous CD 
Frequency search forward

Reading the
following CD 
Mute switch 
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6
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Communication119
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Radio and mobile phone operation
The driver can set the basic functions of the radio and telephone system by simply operating the buttons on the multi-functional module* behind the steering wheel so that he can concentrate on the traffic situation without being distracted as little as possible by operating the radio system ⇒fig. 99.
This applies only if your radio and mo bile phone equipment has been installed at the factory. You can of course operate the radio and mobile system at the appliance. You will find a description in the operating instructions of your radio system.
By pressing the buttons, you can carry out the following functions:
The buttons apply for the respective operating mode of the current radio system.
Fig. 99 Multi-functional module: Buttons for the radio and mobile phone operation
ButtonRadioCDPhone
Thumbwheel for stored transmitter
forward 
back 
Title search
forward
back 
Scroll through with the aid of the thumbwheel
Increase volume  
Decrease volume  
Switching over between radio system and mobile phone   
without functionReceive, accept a call, call up menu telephone,
confirm menu selection  / 
without functionActivation/deactivation button for voice control 
(button PTT)
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6
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