2006 SKODA FABIA Owner's Manual

Towing a trailer184
NKO A05Fabia 20.book Page 184 Tuesday, September 26, 2006 8:38 AM

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle185
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
General Maintenance
Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
General
Proper care retains the value of your vehicle.
Regular and proper care retains the value of your vehicle. It may also be one of the requirements for the acceptance of warranty claims relating to corrosion damage and paint defects on the bodywork.
We recommend using a preservative fr om Škoda genuine accessories offered by your Škoda dealer. Please follow th e instructions for use on the package.
WARNING
•Care products may be harmful to your health if not used according to the instructions.
•Always store care products in a safe place, out of the reach of children - risk of poisoning!
For the sake of the environment
•Always select environmen tally-friendly products when purchasing vehicle care products.
•Do not dispose of residues of care products in domestic waste.
Care of the exterior of vehicle
Washing the vehicle
Frequent washing protects your vehicle.
The best protection for your vehicle ag ainst harmful environmental influences is frequent washing and wax treatment. How often you should wash your vehicle depends on a wide range of factors, such as:
•Frequency of use,
•The parking situation (garage, below trees etc.),
•Season of the year,
•Weather conditions,
•Environmental influences.
The longer insect residues, bird dropping s, tree sap, road and industrial dust, tar, soot particles, road salt and other aggressive deposits remain adhering to the paintwork of your vehicle, the more detrimental their destructive effect can be. High temperatures, such as those caus ed by intensive sun's rays, accentuate this caustic effect.
It may therefore be necessary, in ce rtain circumstances, to wash the car once a week . It may also be sufficient, however, to wash the car once a month followed by approp riate wax treatment.
It is essential to also thoroughly wash the underside of your vehicle at the end of the winter road salting and gritting period.
NKO A05Fabia 20.book Page 185 Tuesday, September 26, 2006 8:38 AM

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle186
WARNING
When washing your vehicle in the winter: Water and ice in the brake system can affect the braking ef ficiency - risk of accident!
Automatic vehicle wash systems
The paintwork of the vehicle is sufficiently resistant that the vehicle can be washed normally in automa tic vehicle wash plants without any problem. The actual stress to which the paintwork is subjected, however, depends primarily on the design of the vehicle wash system, the filtering of the water and the type of washing and care products used. If th e paintwork of your vehicle appears mat after being washed or even has scratches, point this out to the operator of the vehicle wash plant. Use a different vehicle wash plant, if necessary.
There are no particular points to note before washing your vehicle in such a plant other than the usual precautionar y measures (closing windows, moving any factory-fitted aerials down flat against the bodywork, etc.).
If you have any particular attached parts fi tted to your car - such as spoiler, roof rack system, two-way radio aerial - it is be st to first of all consult the operator of the car wash plant.
It is important to degrease the lips of the windscreen wiper rubbers after passing through the automatic vehicle wash system.
Caution
Do not screw the swivelling down roof ae rial tight before washing the vehicle in an automatic vehicle wash system - risk of damage!
Washing vehicle by hand
It is important to first soften the dirt with plenty of water and rinse it off as thor- oughly as possible before wa shing your vehicle by hand.
One should then clean the vehicle using a soft washing sponge, washing glove or a washing brush and only slight pressure. Work from the top to the bottom - beginning with the roof. Only place slight pressure on the vehicle paintwork during cl eaning Only use a car shampoo for stubborn dirt.
Wash out the sponge or washing glove thoroughly at short intervals.
Clean wheels, door sills and similar parts last. Use a second sponge for such areas.
Rinse off the vehicle well after giving it a wash and dry it off using a chamois leather.
WARNING
•The ignition should always be switched off when you wash your vehicle - risk of accident!
•Protect your hands and arms from sharp-edged metal parts when you are cleaning the underfloor, the in side of the wheel housings or the wheel trims - risk of cuts.
Caution
•Do not wash your vehicl e in bright sunlight - risk of paint damage.
•Ensure that the jet of water is not aimed directly at the locks or at the door and panel joints if you spray your vehicle in winter down with a hose - risk of freezing.
•Do not use any insect sponges, rough kitchen sponges or similar cleaning products - risk of damage to the surface of paintwork.
NKO A05Fabia 20.book Page 186 Tuesday, September 26, 2006 8:38 AM

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle187
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
For the sake of the environment
Only wash your vehicle at washing bays specifically reserved for this purpose. This ensures that no water which may be contaminated by oil flows into the sewage system. It is not even permitted to wash your vehicle in certain areas except at such specific washing bays.
Washing with a high-pressure cleaner
When you wash your vehicle with a high -pressure cleaner, it is essential to comply with the instructions for use of the cleaning equipment. This applies in particular to the pressure used and to the spraying distance. Maintain a suffi- ciently large distance to soft materials su ch as rubber hoses or insulation mate- rial.
On no account use circular spray nozzles or so-called dirt cutters!
WARNING
It is particularly important that you do not clean tyres with circular spray jets. Damage may occur even at a rela tively large spraying distance and if sprayed only for a short time.
Caution
The water containing wax must be no hotter than 60°C, otherwise the vehicle can be damaged.
Wax treatment
Good wax treatment is an effective wa y of protecting the paintwork from harmful environmental influences and minor mechanical damage.
The vehicle must be treated with a high-q uality hard wax polish at the latest, when no more drops form on the clean paintwork.
A new layer of a high-quality hard wax po lish can be applied to the clean body- work after it has dried thoroughly. Even if you use a wax preserver regularly we still recommend that you treat the paintwork of the vehicle at least twice a year with hard wax.
Caution
Never apply wax to the windows.
Polishing
Polishing is only necessary if the paintwork of your vehicle has become unat-tractive and if it is no longer possibl e to achieve a gloss with wax preservers.
You must treat the paintwork with a wax preserver if the polish you use does not contain any preserving elements ⇒page 187, “Wax treatment”.
We recommend using a preservative fr om Škoda genuine accessories offered by your Škoda dealer.
Caution
•You must not treat mat painted parts or plastic with polishing products or hard wax.
•Do not polish the paintwork of the ve hicle in a dusty environment, other- wise the paintwork can be scratched.
NKO A05Fabia 20.book Page 187 Tuesday, September 26, 2006 8:38 AM

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle188
Chrome parts
First clean the chrome parts with a damp clotch and then polish them with a soft, dry cloth. If it does not prove to be adequate, use a chrome care product from Škoda original accessories.
Caution
Do not polish the chrome parts in a du sty environment, otherwise they can be scratched.
Paint damage
Slight damage to paintwork such as scratches, scuffs or traces of chip damage must be treated immediately before any corrosion can result. You can of course have this work carried out by a Škoda Service Partner.
Škoda Service Partners ha ve a range of matching touch-up pens or spray cans available in the colour of your vehicle.
The paint number of the orig inal paintwork of your vehicle is indicated on the vehicle data sticker ⇒page 247.
Any corrosion which has already have formed must be removed thoroughly. Apply a corrosion protection primer and then the paint to the affected point. You can of course have this work carried out by a Škoda Service Partner.
Plastic parts
External plastic parts are cleaned by norm al washing. Plastic parts and synthetic leather can also be treated with special solvent-free plastic cleaning agents
if a damp cloth is not sufficient. Paint care products are not suitable for plastic parts.
Caution
Solvent-free cleaners attack th e material and can damage it.
Windows
Only use a plastic ice scraper for removing snow and ice from the windows and mirrors. You should not move the ice scraper forward and backward but in one direction on the window which you are cl eaning in order to avoid any damage to the surface of the glass.
You can best remove residues of rubber, oil, grease, wax or silicone by using a special window cleaner or a special silicone remover.
You should also clean the windows regularly from the inside.
Do not use window leathers which you have used to polish the vehicle body to dry off the windows. Residues of preservatives in the window leather can dirty the window and reduce visibility.
Do not affix any stickers over the inside of the rear window to avoid damage to the heating elements of the rear window heater.
We recommend using a preservative fr om Škoda genuine accessories offered by your Škoda dealer.
Caution
•Never remove snow or ice from the glass parts with warm or hot water - risk of formation of cracks in the glass!
•When removing snow or ice from the windows and mirror lenses make sure not to damage the paintwork of the vehicle.
NKO A05Fabia 20.book Page 188 Tuesday, September 26, 2006 8:38 AM

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle189
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
The headlight lenses
Please do not use any aggressive cleaning or chemical solvent products - risk of damage to the plastic lenses Please use soap and clean warm water.
Caution
Never wipe the headlights dry and do not use any sharp objects for cleaning the plastic lenses, this may result in da mage to the protective paintwork and consequently in formation of cracks on the headlight lenses, e.g through effect of chemical products.
Door and window seals
The rubber seals on the doors, boot lid, bonnet and windows remain supple and last longer if you trea t them from time to time with a rubber care product (e.g. with a silicone-free oil in the spray). You also avoid premature wear of the seals and prevent leakages in this way. It is also easier to open the doors. Rubber seals which are well cared for also do not stick together in cold winter weather.
Locks
We recommend that you use the spray fr om Škoda original accessories with regreasing and anticorrosive effect for de-icing locks.
Note
When washing your vehicle, ensure that as little water as possible gets into the locks.
Wheels
Steel wheels
You should also thoroughly wash the wheels and wheel trims when giving your vehicle its regular wash. This prevents an y brake dust, dirt and road salt from sticking to the wheel hubs. You can remo ve stubborn brake abrasion adhering to the wheels with an industrial cleane r. Touch up any damage to the paintwork on the wheels before rust is able to form.
Light alloy wheels
Regular care of light alloy wheels is necessary in order to retain their decorative appearance over long periods. It is particularly important to remove any road salt and brake abrasion from light alloy wheels every two weeks, otherwise the surface will suffer. Wash thoroughly and th en treat the wheels with a protective product for light alloy wheels which does not contain any acidic components. You should provide the wheel hubs with a hard wax layer every three months. You must not use any products which ca use abrasion when treating the wheel hubs. Any damage to the paint layer on the wheel hubs must be touched up immediately.
We recommend using a preservative fr om Škoda genuine accessories offered by your Škoda dealer.
WARNING
One should remember when cleaning the wheels that moisture, ice and road salt may adversely affect brakin g efficiency - risk of an accident!
Note
Severe layers of dirt on the wheels can also result in wheel imbalance. This may show itself in the form of a wheel vibrat ion which is transmitted to the steering wheel which, in certain circumstance s, can cause premature wear of the steering. This means it is necessary to remove the dirt.
NKO A05Fabia 20.book Page 189 Tuesday, September 26, 2006 8:38 AM

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle190
Underbody protection
The underside of your vehicle is protected for life against chemical and mechanical influences.
One cannot, however, complete ly rule out damage to the protective layer when driving so we recommend that you inspect the protective layer on the underside of your ve hicle and on the chassis at certain intervals - this is best done at the beginning and end of the winter - and to touch up any damaged areas.
Škoda Service Partne rs have suitable spray products available as well as the necessary equipment and are familiar with the instructions for use. We there- fore recommend to have repairs and addi tional corrosion protection measures preferably carried out by a Škoda Service Partner.
WARNING
Never use additional underbody protection or corrosion-protection agents for the exhaust pipes, catalytic converters or heat shields. Such substances might ignite when driving - risk of fire!
Protection of hollow spaces
All the cavities of your vehicle which are at risk from corrosion are protected for life by a layer of protective wax applied in the factory.
This wax protection does not require to be inspected or re-treated. Please remove any small amount of wax which flow s out of the cavities at high temper- atures with a plastic scraper and cl ean the spot using petroleum cleaner.
WARNING
Safety and environmental protection regulations should observed when using petroleum cleaner to remove wax - a risk of fire!
Engine compartment
Good corrosion protection is very import ant, particularly in winter when one often drives over its salt-strewn roads. One should therefore clean the entire engine compartment before and after the salt spreading period, in order to prevent the salt from being destructive.
Škoda Service Partners have the cleani ng agents recommended by the manu- facturer and also the required equipment.
WARNING
•It is necessary to observe the guid elines given in the chapter before working on the engine compartment ⇒page 198.
•Let the engine cool down before cleaning the engine compartment.
Caution
•Engine cleaning may be only be undertaken when the ignition is off.
•It is recommended to cover the generator before washing the engine compartment.
For the sake of the environment
The dirty water produced by washing the engine has washed away petrol, and residues of grease and oil and should therefore be cleaned by an oil separator. This is why engine washing should only be undertaken in a garage or at a fueling station (when these are fitted with the required equipment).
NKO A05Fabia 20.book Page 190 Tuesday, September 26, 2006 8:38 AM

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle191
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Care of the interior of vehicle
Plastic parts, artificial leather and cloths
You can clean plastic parts and artificial leather with a moist cloth. You should only treat such parts with special solvent-free plastic cleaning and care products it does prove to be adequate.
Upholstery cloth and cloth trim on th e doors, luggage compartment cover, headliner etc. are best treated with spec ial cleaning products, using if necessary a dry foam and a soft sponge or brush.
We recommend using a cleaning prod uct from Škoda genuine accessories offered by your Škoda dealer.
Caution
Solvent-free cleaners attack the material and can damage it.
Fabric covers of elec trically heated seats
Do not clean the seat covers moist as this may result in damage to the seat heating system.
Clean such covers using special agents, for example dry foam.
Natural leather
Natural leather requires quite particular care and attention.
Leather should be treated from time to time according the following
guidelines depending on how much it is used.
Normal cleaning
– Clean soiled areas of the leather with slightly moistened cotton or
woollen cloth.
Severe soiling
– Clean severely soiled areas with a cloth dipped in a mild soapy
solution (2 spoonfuls of natura l soap to 1 litre of water).
– Ensure that the leather is not soak ed through at any point and that
no water gets into the stitching of the seams.
– Dry off the leather with a soft, dry cloth.
Removing stains
– Remove fresh stains which are water-based (e.g. coffee, tea,
juices, blood etc.) with an absorbent cloth or household paper or
use the cleaner from the care set for a stain which has already dried
in.
– Remove fresh stains on a fat base (e.g. butter, mayonnaise, choc-
olate etc.) with an absorbent cloth or household cleaning paper or
with the cleaner from the care set if the stain has not yet penetrated
into the surface.
– Use a grease dissolver for grease stains which have dried in.
–Eliminate special stains (e.g. ball-point pens, felt pen, nail varnish,
dispersion paint, shoe cream etc.) with a special stain remover
suitable for leather.
Leather care
– Treat the leather every six months with the leather care product
available from Škoda Service Partners.
NKO A05Fabia 20.book Page 191 Tuesday, September 26, 2006 8:38 AM