2007 SKODA FABIA fuel consumption

Heating and air conditioning system81
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Close air outlet vents
– Turn the rotary knob into the lower position.
Redirecting air flow
– The horizontal as well as the vertical direction of the air flow is set with
the handle in the middle of the air outlet vents.
You can set the air supply to the individual vents with the air distribution control ⇒ page 78, fig. 84. Air outlet vents 3 and 4 can also be opened or closed individu- ally:
Unwarmed or cooled air will flow out of th e air outlet vents according to the setting of control dial ⇒page 78, fig. 84 and the atmospheric conditions.
Using the air conditioning system economically
The compressor on the Climatic uses power from the engine when in cooling mode which will effect the fuel consumption.
It recommended to open the windows or th e doors of a vehicle for which the inte- rior has been strongly heated through the ef fect of direct sunlight in order to allow the heated air to escape.
The cooling system should not be switched on while travelling when the window is open.
The desired interior temperature can also be achieved without switching in the cooling system just by switching to fresh air mode.
For the sake of the environment
When you economize on fuel, you also reduce pollutant emissions.
Operational problems
If the cooling system does not operate at outside temperatures higher than +2 °C, there is a problem in the system. The reasons for this may be:
•The fuse of the Climatic is defective. Check the fuse, replace it if necessary ⇒ page 205.
•The cooling system has switched off automatically for a short time because the coolant temperature of the engine is too hot ⇒page 10.
If you are not able to rectify the operat ional problem yourself, or if the cooling capacity decreases, switch the cooling sy stem off. Contact a specialist garage.
If there is a fault at the Climatronic, all symbols on the display flash after switching on the ignition for 15 seconds. Contact a specialist garage.
Climatronic (automatic air conditioning)*
Description
The Climatronic system is a comb ination of an automatic heating,
fresh air and cooling system which provides optimal comfort for the
occupants of the car.
The Climatronic maintains a constant temper ature fully automatically, once it has been set. This is achieved by automa tically varying the temperature of the outflowing air, the blower stages and the ai r distribution. The system also takes into account sunlight which eliminates the n eed to alter the settings manually. The automatic mode ⇒page 83 ensures maximum wellbeing of the occupants at all times of the year.
Description of Climatronic system
The cooling operates only if the following conditions are met:
•engine running,
•outside temperature above +2 °C,
•the button is not pressed.
If the cooling system is switched on, th e temperature and air humidity drops in the vehicle. The wellbeing of the occupants of the car is enhanced as a result of this particularly at high outside temperatur es and a high air humidity. The system prevents the windows misting up during the cold season of the year.
AC
AA
ECON
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Starting-off and Driving87
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Ignition lock
Petrol engines
- ignition switched off, engine off, the steering can be locked.
- ignition switched on
- start engine
Diesel engines
- interruption of fuel supply, ignition sw itched off, engine off, the steering can be locked.
- heating glow plugs on, ignition switched on
•You should not switch on any major elec trical components during the heating period otherwise the vehicle batter y will be drained unnecessarily.
- start engine
Applies to all models:
Position
To lock the steering, with the ignition key withdrawn, turn the steering wheel until the steering locking pin is heard to engage. You should always lock the steering as a general rule if you leave your vehicle. This acts as a deterrent against possible theft of your vehicle ⇒.
Position
Move the steering wheel back and forward a little if the ignition key cannot, or cannot easily be turned into this position, in order to release the steering lock.
Position
The engine is started in this position. At the same time switched on low beam or main beam or other electrical compon ents with major power consumption are briefly switched off. The ignition key moves back into position when one releases the key.
The ignition key must be turned back into position each time before starting the engine again. The starter repeat lock in th e ignition lock prevents the starter being engaged when the engine is ru nning and thus getting damaged.
WARNING
•When driving, the ignition key must always be in the position (igni- tion switched on) without the engine running. This position is indicated by the warning lights coming on. If this is not the case, it could result in unex- pected locking of the steering wheel - risk of accident!
•Do not withdraw the ignition key from the lock until the car has come to a stop. The steering lock can engage immediately - 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 children are left in the vehicle. The children migh t otherwise start the engine or operate electrical equipment (e.g. power windows) - risk of injury!
Starting the engine
General
You can only start the engine only using an original ignition key.
•Place the gearshift lever into neutral and put on the handbrake 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.
Fig. 90 Ignition lock positions
A1
A2
A3
A1
A2
A3
A1
A2
A3
A2
A1
A2
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Automatic gearbox94
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 automatically.
At the same time this is a conventional automatic gearbox. The maximum speed is reached in the 5th gear. The 6th gear se rves 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 automatically.
You can also, however, switch the gearbox over into the Tiptronic mode.
This mode makes it possible for you to also shift gears manually
⇒ page 97.
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 95,
and then release the Shiftlock button.
– Wait a moment until the gearbox has 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 stop-
ping 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 87.
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 neces- sary to release pressure on the accelerato r 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 acci-dent!
•Never move the selector lever into position R or P when driving - risk of an accident!
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Automatic gearbox97
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
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 auto matically 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 in to 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 acceleration and freq uent changes in speed, exploiting the top speed of the car or depressing the a ccelerator pedal (kickdown function), will cause the gearbox to switch 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 shift programme by depressing the accelerator rapidly. The gearbox shifts down into a lower gear matc hing the speed of the car and this allows you to accelerate rapidly (e.g. when ov ertaking) 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. When driving downhill, it is possible to shift down into the Tiptronic position, in order to exploit the engine brake torque.
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. 97 .
Fig. 97 Selector lever: Manual shifting of gears
Fig. 98 Information display: Manual shifting of gears
A+
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Driving and the Environment152
Catalytic converter
Proper operation of the emission control system (catalytic converter)
is of major significance for drivin g your vehicle in an environmen-
tally conscious way.
Please refer to the following guidelines:
– For vehicles with petrol engine only refuel with unleaded petrol
⇒ page 169, “Grades of petrol”.
– Never run the fuel tank completely empty.
– Do not switch off the ignition while you are driving the vehicle.
– Do not pour too much oil into the engine ⇒page 177, “Replenishing
engine oil”.
– Do not tow-start the vehicle over a distance of more than 50 metres
⇒ page 203, “Tow-starting a vehicle”.
If you drive your vehicle in a country in which unleaded petrol is not available, you must have the catalytic converter replaced later when driving the vehicle into a country in which use of a cata lytic converter is mandatory.
WARNING
•In view of the high temperatures which may be produced in the catalytic converter, one should always park a vehicle in such a way that the catalytic converter cannot come into contact with easily flammable materials below the vehicle - a risk of fire!
•Never use additional underbody protection or corrosion-protection agents for the exhaust pipes, catalyti c converters or heat shields. Such substances might ignite when driving - risk of fire!
Caution
•Vehicles fitted with catalytic converter should never be allowed to let the fuel tank to run completely empty. An irregular fuel supply can result in poor ignition or
misfiring. Unburnt fuel may get into the exhaust system and damage the catalytic converter.
•Filling the tank even only once with le aded petrol will result in the catalytic converter being destroyed.
•If you detect misfiring, a drop in perf ormance or irregular engine running when driving, reduce your speed immediately and have the vehicle inspected by the nearest specialist garage. The symptoms described may be caused by a fault in the ignition system. Unburnt fuel may get in to the exhaust system and damage the catalytic converter.
For the sake of the environment
Even if the exhaust system is operating properly, a sulphur-like exhaust odour may be produced under certain operating condit ions of the engine. This depends on the sulphur content of the fuel. It is often su fficient to refuel with unleaded premium- grade petrol of a different brand or at a different filling station.
Driving in an economical and environmentally
conscious manner
General
Your personal style of driving is a major factor.
Your fuel consumption, any pollution of the environmental and the wear-and-tear to the engine, brakes and tyres, depend essentially on three factors:
•your personal style of driving,
•the conditions under which your vehicle is operated,
•technical aspects.
You can easily improve your fuel economy by 10 - 15 percent by driving in an economical way with foresight. This section is intended to provide you with a number of tips on how to protect the en vironment and at the same time save money.
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Driving and the Environment153
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
The fuel consumption can naturally also be influenced by factors which are beyond the driver's control. It is, for example, normal for the fuel consumption to increase in winter and under worsened conditions such as poor road conditions, towing a trailer, etc.
The technical requirements for low fuel usage and economic efficiency of the vehicle have already been built into the ve hicle at the works. Special attention has been given to minimising ne gative effects on the environment. It is necessary to take note of the guidelines given in this chapter in order to make best use of these characteristics and to maintain their effectiveness.
Looking ahead when driving
A vehicle's highest fuel consumption occurs it accelerates.
Avoid accelerating and brakin g unnecessarily. If you drive with forsight you will not need to brake so often and will also then not have to accelerate so much. Let your vehicle coast to a stop, for example, if this is possible, when you see that the next set of traffic lights is at red.
Shifting gears and saving energy
Shifting up early saves on fuel.
Manual gearbox
– Drive no more than about one length of your vehicle in first gear.
Always shift up into the next higher gear at approx. 2 000 to 2 500 revs.
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 unnecessa rily high revolutions in any given gear.
The ⇒fig. 139 shows the ratio of fuel consumption to the speed of your vehicle in the relevant 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 13.
Avoiding full throttle
Driving more slowly means saving fuel.
Fig. 139 Fuel consump- tion in litres/100 km. and speed in km/h.
Fig. 140 Fuel consump-tion in litres/100 km. and speed in km/h.
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Driving and the Environment154
Sensitive use of the accelerator will not only significantly reduce fuel consumption but also positively influence environmen tal pollution and wear of your vehicle.
You should avoid fully exploi ting the top speed of your vehicle wherever possible. Fuel consumption, pollutant emissions and vehicle noises increase disproportion- ally at high speeds.
The ⇒page 153, fig. 140 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-quar- ters of the possible top speed of your vehicle.
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 length y red phase. Even after just 30 - 40 seconds you will have saved more fuel than 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 em issions, though, are particularly high in the warming-up phase. This is why you should drive off right after starting the engine. Do avoid high engine revolutions at this time, however.
Regular servicing
A poorly tuned engine consumes 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 properly servic ed 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 fu el 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 consid- erable 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 additional improvements in your fuel economy by using high- lubricity oils.
•Check the ground below your car at regula r 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.
– Avoid driving a distance of no more than 4 km if the engine is cold.
The engine and catalytic converter mu st first have reached their optimal operating temperature in order to effectively reduce fuel consumption and pollutant emis- sions.
Fig. 141 Fuel consump- tion in litres/100 km at different temperatures
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Driving and the Environment155
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
The cold engine vehicle consumes approx. 15 - 20 litres/100 km of fuel immediately after starting. Fuel co nsumption drops to 10 litres/100 km after just 1 kilometre. The engine reaches its operating temperat ure (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 154, fig. 141 shows the different fuel consumptions for the same distance, on the one hand at +20°C and on the other hand at -10°C. Your vehicle has a higher fuel consumption 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 consumpt ion but also tyre wear and the driving behaviour will worsen.
Always check the inflation pressure 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 balla st 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 par ticularly i n town tra ffi c, whe n one is accelerating quite often, that the vehicle weight will have a significant effect 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 litre more fuel than normal at a speed of 100 - 120 km/h, even when you are not carr ying 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.
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 worthwhile exer- cise. 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 yo u have driven the vehicle since you last refuelled.
Environmental compatibility
Environmental protection has played a major role in the design, selection of mate- rials 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 different classes of materials
•identification of all plastic parts in accordance with VDA Recommendation 260
•reduced fuel consumption and exhaust emission CO2
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