2006 SKODA FABIA Owner's Manual

Driving and the Environment176
Automatic gearbox
– Depress the accelerator pedal slowly. Do not depress it beyond
the kickdown position, however.
An effective way of achieving good fuel economy is to shift up early. You will consume more fuel if you drive at unnece ssarily high revolutions in any given gear.
The ⇒page 175, fig. 136 shows the ratio of fuel consumption to the speed of your vehicle for the individual gears. Fuel consumption in 1st gear is the highest and in 5th gear is the lowest.
Note
•The optimal engine speed should be obtained when accelerating, in order to avoid a high fuel consumption and resonance of the vehicle.
•Also use the information supplied by the multi-functional indicator* ⇒ page 17.
Avoiding full throttle
Driving more slowly means saving fuel.
Sensitive use of the accelerator will not only significantly reduce fuel consump- tion but also positively influence environmental pollution and wear of your vehicle.
You should avoid fully exploiting the top speed of your vehicle wherever possible. Fuel consumption, pollutant emissions and vehicle noises increase disproportionally at high speeds.
The ⇒fig. 137 shows the ratio of fuel consumption to the speed of your vehicle. You will cut your fuel consumption by half if you only make use three-quarters of the possible top speed of your vehicle.
Fig. 137 Fuel consump- tion in litres/100 km. and speed in km/h.
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Driving and the Environment177
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Reducing idling
Idling also costs fuel.
It is worthwhile switching off the engine in a traffic jam or when waiting at a level crossing or at traffic lights with a le ngthy red phase. Even after just 30 - 40 seconds you will have saved more fuel th an that is needed when you start the engine up again.
If an engine is only idling it takes much longer for it to reach its normal operating temperature. Wear-and-tear and pollutant emissions, though, are particularly high in the warming-up phase. This is why you should drive off right after starting the engine. Do avoid high engi ne revolutions at this time, however.
Regular servicing
A poorly tuned engine consum es an unnecessarily high
amount of fuel.
Having your vehicle serviced regularly at a specialist garge enables you to satisfy one of the requirements for economical motoring even before you set off on your journey. Keeping your vehicle prop erly serviced not only has a positive effect on the safety of your vehicle and maintaining its value, but also saves on fuel .
A poorly tuned engine can result in a fuel consumption which is 10% higher than normal.
The foreseen maintenance work should be undertaken exactly according to the Service schedule by a specialist garage.
Also check the oil level after refueling. Oil consumption is dependent to a considerable extent on the load and speed of the engine. Oil consumption could be as high as 0.5 litres/1 000 km depending on your style of driving.
It is quite normal that a new engine ha s a higher oil consumption at first, and reaches its lowest level only after a certain running in time. It is therefore not possible to correctly assess the oil cons umption of a new vehicle until after you have driven about 5 000 km.
For the sake of the environment
•You can achieve addi tional improvements in your fuel economy by using high-lubricity oils.
•Check the ground below your car at regular intervals to detect any leakages in good time. Please have your vehicle inspected by a specialist garge if you find any stains caused by oil or other fluids on the floor.
Avoid driving short distances
Short distances result in an above-average high fuel
consumption.
Fig. 138 Fuel consump- tion in litres/100 km at different temperatures
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Driving and the Environment178
– Avoid driving a distance of no more than 4 km if the engine is cold.
The engine and catalytic converter must first have reached their optimal oper- ating temperature in order to effectively reduce fuel consumption and pollutant emissions.
The cold engine vehicle consumes approx. 15 - 20 litres/100 km of fuel imme- diately after starting. Fuel consumption drops to 10 litres/100 km after just 1 kilometre. The engine reaches its operating temperature (outside temperature and engine dependent) only after about 4 to 10 kilometres and the fuel consumption then stabilizes. You should therefore avoid driving short distances whenever possible.
An important factor in this connection is also the ambient temperature. The ⇒ page 177, fig. 138 shows the different fuel consumptions for the same distance, on the one hand at +20°C an d on the other hand at -10°C. Your vehicle has a higher fuel consum ption in winter than in summer.
Checking tyre inflation pressures
Tyres which are correctly inflated save fuel.
Always ensure that your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure at all times. The rolling resistance will be increased if the tyre filling pressure is too low. This will not only increase fuel consumptio n but also tyre wear and the driving behaviour will worsen.
Always check the inflation pr essure of the tyres when cold.
Do not drive with winter tyres all year round for this costs about 10 % more fuel. Winter tyres are also louder.
No unnecessary ballast
Transporting ballast costs fuel.
The fact that every kilogram of extra weight increases your fuel consumption means that it is worth taking a look in the luggage compartment to avoid trans- porting any unnecessary ballast.
It is particularly in town traffic, when one is accelerating quite often, that the vehicle weight will have a significant effe ct upon the fuel consumption. A rule of thumb here is that an increase in weight of 100 kilograms will cause an increase in fuel consumption of about 1 litre/100 kilometres.
You may frequently also leave a roof rack fitted on just out of convenience, although you no longer need it. The incr eased aerodynamic drag of your vehicle causes it to use about 1 l more fuel th an normal at a speed of 100 - 120 km/h, even when you are not carrying a load on the roof.
Saving electricity
Generating electricity costs fuel.
– Switch off electrical components as soon as you no longer need
them.
When the engine is running, the alternator generates and supplies electrical power. If more electrical components are switched on, more fuel is needed to operate the alternator.
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Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Keeping a log of your fuel consumption
If you really wish to keep a close check on your fuel consumption, it is best to enter the figures in a logbook. This does not take much time but is a very worth- while exercise. It enables you to detect any change (positive and negative) at an early stage and to take any appropriate action.
If you find that your fuel consumption is too high, you should reflect on how, where and in what conditions you have driven the vehicle since you last refuelled.
Environmental compatibility
Environmental protection has played a ma jor role in the design, selection of materials and manufacture of your new Škoda. Particular emphasis has been paid to a number of aspects, including:
Design measures
•joints designed to be easily detached
•simplified disassembly due to the modular structure system
•improved purity of differ ent classes of materials
•Identification of all plastic parts in accordance with VDA Recommendation 260
•Reduced fuel consumption and exhaust emission CO 2
•Minimum fuel leakage during accidents
•Reduced noise
Choice of materials
•extensive use of recyclable material
•Air conditioning filled wi th CFC-free refrigerant
•no cadmium
•no asbestos
•Reduction in the “vaporisation” of plastics
Manufacture
•solvent-free cavity protection
•solvent-free protection of the vehicle for transportation from the produc- tion plant to the customer
•The use of solvent-free adhesives
•No CFCs used in the production process
•without use of mercury
•Use of water-soluble paints
Motoring abroad
General
Other circumstances may exist abroad.
It is also possible, in certain countries, that the Škoda Service Partner network is limited or has not been esta blished 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 a.s. 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.
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Driving and the Environment180
Unleaded petrol
A vehicle fitted with a petrol engine must always be refuelled with unleaded petrol ⇒page 174. The automobile associations can provide you with informa- tion regarding the locations of fillin g 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 gr eater 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.
Headlight stickers can be obtained as a spare part from the Skoda Service Part- ners.
Headlights with module are designed for dr iving in countries with traffic on the right or on the left. Have this done always at a Škoda Service Partner.
Note
You can obtain further information rega rding masking over or converting the headlights from your Škoda Service Partner.
Avoiding damage to your vehicle
When driving on poor roads and lanes or when driving over kerbstones, steep ramps etc., you must pay particular atte ntion to ensuring that any low-slung parts of the vehicle, such as spoiler an d exhaust, do not touch the ground and get damaged.
This particularly applies to models with a lowered suspension (sport suspen- sion) and also when your vehicle is fully laden.
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Towing a trailer181
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Towing a trailer
Towing a trailer
Technical requirements
The towing device must satisfy certain technical requirements.
Your vehicle is designed primarily for transporting persons and luggage. It can, however, also be used fo r towing a trailer - provided certain technical equip- ment is fitted.
If your vehicle has alread y been supplied with a factory-fitted towing device then everything that is necessary for towi ng a trailer in technical terms, and in terms of the law, has already been taken into account.
Your vehicle is fitted with a 13-pin powe r socket for the electrical connection between the vehicle and trailer. If the trailer which you wish to tow has a 7-pin connector , you can use a suitable adapter 4) from Škoda original accessories.
This work must be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's specifica- tions if a towing device is retrofitted.
Škoda Service Partners are familiar with de tails relating to retrofitting a towing device and for any necessary modifications to the cooling system.
WARNING
We recommend that you have the towing device from Škoda original accessories installed by a Škoda Servic e Partner. He is familiar with all the relevant details relating to retrofit ting such equipment. There is a risk of an accident if the towing device is not properly fitted!
General Maintenance
There are a number of points to pay attention to when towing
a trailer.
Tr a i l e r l o a d
The permissible trailer load must on no account be exceeded.
You can negotiate appropriat ely steeper inclines and descents if you do not make full use of the pe rmissible trailer load.
The trailer loads specified only apply for altitudes up to 1 000 metres above mean sea level. The fact that the engi ne power output drops with increasing he ig ht due to a low ering of a ir pres sure and thus the ability to climb, means that the towed weight must be reduced by 10 % for every further increase of 1 000 metres in height above sea level. The towed weight is the weight of the (laden) vehicle and the (laden) trailer together. One should take this into account before driving up to higher altitudes.
The trailer and drawbar load informatio n on the type plate of the towing device are merely test data for the towi ng device The data relating to your vehicle, which is often less than this test data, can be found in your vehicle registration documents or in the brochure - Technical Data .
Distribution of the load
Distribute the load in the trailer in such a way that any heavy items are located as close as possible to the axle. Secu re the items to prevent them slipping.
Tyre pressure
Correct the tyre inflation pressure on yo ur vehicle for that of “fully laden”, ⇒ page 214. The inflation pressure of the tyres fitted to the trailer adjust in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation.
4)In some countries the adapter is supplied with the towing device.
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Towing a trailer182
Exterior mirrors
You have to have addi tional exterior mirrors fitted if you are not able to see the traffic behind the trailer with the standard rear-view mirrors. Both exterior mirrors should be attached to folding arms. Adjust the mirrors so that they provide you with an adequate field of view to the rear.
Headlights
Before starting off with a hitched trailer, also check the setting of the headlights. Alter the setting as necessary with th e aid of the headlight beam adjuster ⇒ page 59.
Detachable ball head
The ball rod is detachable on vehicles with towing device and suppliable from Škoda original accessories. It is stowed together with separate fitting instruc- tions in the spare wheel well in the luggage compartment of the vehicle.
Note
•We recommend that you also have yo ur vehicle inspected between service intervals if you tow a trailer frequently.
•The handbrake on the towing vehicle must be put on when coupling and decoupling the trailer.
•Keep the mechanism of the ball head of the towing device clean and take proper care of it with a suitable preservative.
Driving Tips
Particular caution is required when towing a trailer.
– Do not, as far as possible, drive with your vehicle unladen and the
trailer laden.
– Do not make full use of the lega l maximum speeds. This applies in
particular to downhill sections.
– Apply the brakes in good time.
– Keep a check on the coolant temperature gauge if the outside
temperature is high.
Distribution of weight
The distribution of the weight is very poor if your vehicle is unladen and the trailer is laden. Maintain a particularly low speed if you cannot avoid driving with this combination.
Driving speed
Do not drive faster than 80 km/hour for safety reasons. This also applies for countries in which higher speeds are allowed.
The fact that the driving stability of the vehicle + trailer combination reduces with increasing speed means that the legally allowed speed should not be used when there are unfavourable road, weat her or wind conditions, particularly near accident black spots.
You must always reduce your speed imme diately as soon as you detect even just the slightest swaying of the trailer. On no account attempt to stop the trailer from “swaying ” by accelerating.
Apply the brakes in good time! If the trailer is fitted with a trailer brake, apply the brakes gently at first and then brake firmly. This will avoid brake jolts resulting from the trailer wheels locking. Shift down gears in good time before negotiating a downhill section to allow the engine to also act as a brake.
Engine overheating
Please keep a check on the coolant temperature gauge if you have to negotiate a lengthy slope in a low gear at a high engine speed when the outside temper- ature is very high ⇒page 14.
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Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
If the needle of the coolant temperatur e gauge moves into the right-hand area or even the red area of the scale, reduce your speed immediately. Stop and switch off the engine if the warning light  in the instrument cluster begins flashing. Wait a few minutes and check th e level of coolant in the coolant expan- sion bottle ⇒page 204, “Inspecting the coolant level”.
Please refer to the following guidelines ⇒page 30, “Coolant tempera- ture/coolant level ”.
The coolant temperature can be reduced by switching on the heating.
Any increase in the cooling effect of the coolant fan through shifting down a gear and increasing the engine speed is not possible since the fan speed is inde- pendent of the engine speed. One should also not drop a gear for this reason when towing a trailer as long as the engine can manage the slope without any drop in speed.
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