2008 SKODA FABIA tow

Heating and air conditioning system87
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
switching cooling on and off
– Press the button . The symbol  in the switch comes on.
– When you again press the switch , the cooling system is switched
off. The symbol  in the button is no longer illuminated.
The set temperature will be automatically maintained other than when the control dial is on the extreme right or extreme left position:
Extreme right position - full heating.
Extreme left position - full cooling.
The controls and can be set to any desired intermediate position.
The blower should aways be on to prevent the windows from misting up.
Note
•The whole heat output will be needed to unfrost the windscreen and side windows. No warm air will be fed to the footwell. This can lead to restriction of the heating comfort.
•The used air streams out through the air removal openings in the luggage compartment.
•If the cooling system has not been switched on for a lengthy period, odours may be produced at the evaporator because of deposits. Switch the air conditioning system on at least once a month for approximately 5 minutes at the highest blower stage - also during the cold season of the year - in order to remove such odours. Also open a window for a short time.
•Please refer to the information regarding recirculated air mode ⇒page 88.
•Have the air conditioning system cleaned by a specialist workshop.
Set Climatic
Recommended settings of Climatic controls for the respective operating modes:
Defrosting the windscreen and side windows
•Put the control dial ⇒page 86, fig. 107 to the temperature selected as usual by you (we recommend 22 °C)
•Blower switch in position 3 or 4
•Turn the air distribution control into the position 
•Open air outlet vents 4 ⇒page 88, fig. 108 and point towards the side window.
Keeping windscreen and side windows demisted
We recommend that you use the following setting in cases where the windows are misted up more than usual (e.g. when it is raining):
•Blower switch in position 2
•Turn the air distribution control into the position between  and 
•Open air outlet vents 4 ⇒page 88, fig. 108 and point towards the side window.
•Switch on the cooling system by pressing button .
Warming up the inside of the vehicle as rapidly as possible
•Control dial at the desired heat temperature
•Blower switch in position 3
•Turn the air distribution control into the position 
•Open the air outlet vents 4
•We recommend that you briefly switch on the recirculated air mode with the pushbutton . The windows can steam up in this position however.
Heating the vehicle to a comfortable temperature
We recommend the following setting once the windows are no longer misted up and the desired temperature has been reached:
•Control dial at the desired heat temperature
•Blower switch in position 2
•Turn the air distribution control into the position between  and 
•Open the air outlet vents 4
•Set the air distribution regulator as required between positions  and , if the windscreen gets misted up again.
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Starting-off and Driving94
Starting-off and Driving
Setting steering wheel position*
You can set the height and the forward/back position of the steering
wheel to the desired position.
– Adjust the driver seat ⇒page 56.
– Pull the lever below the steering column ⇒fig. 111 down ⇒.
– Set the steering wheel to the desired position (concerning height and
forward/back position).
– Then push the lever up against the steering column until it locks into
place.
WARNING
•You must not adjust the steering wheel when the vehicle is moving!
•The driver must maintain a distance of at least 25 cm to the steering wheel ⇒fig. 112. Not maintaining this minimum distance will mean that the airbag system will not be able to properly protect you - hazard!
•For s afe ty re a so ns t he le ve r m ust al wa y s b e fi rm ly pus he d up to a voi d the steering wheel altering its position unintentionally when driving - risk of accident!
•If you adjust the steering wheel further towards the head, you will reduce the protection offered by the driver airbag in the event of an accident. Check that the steering wheel is aligned to the chest.
•When driving, hold the steering wheel with both hands firmly on the outer edge in the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position. Never hold the steering wheel firmly in the 12 o'clock position or in another way (e.g. in the middle of the steering wheel or at the inner steering wheel edge). In such cases, injuries to the arms, the hands and the head can occur when the driver airbag is deployed.
Fig. 111 Adjustable steering wheel: Lever below steering column
Fig. 112 Safe distance to steering wheel
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Starting-off and Driving96
•Let go of the key as soon as the engine starts otherwise there may be damage to the starter.
The engine running noises may louder at first be louder for a short time after starting the cold engine until oil pressure can be built up in the hydraulic valve clearance compensation. This is quite normal and is not an operating problem.
If the engine does not start ...
You can use the battery of another vehicle as a jump-start aid ⇒page 208.
It is only possible to tow-start vehicles fitted with a manual gearbox. The tow-starting distance must not be more than 50 metres ⇒page 211.
WARNING
•Never run the engine in non ventilated or enclosed areas. The exhaust gases of the engine contain besides the odorless and colourless carbon monoxide a poisonous gas - hazard! Carbon monoxide can cause uncon-sciousness and death.
•Never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running.
Caution
•The starter may only be operated (ignition key position ), if the engine is not running. If the starter is immediately operated after switching off the engine, the starter or the engine can be damaged.
•Avoid high engine revolutions, full throttle and high engine loads as long as the engine has not yet reached its normal operating temperature - risk of damaging the engine!
•Vehicles which are fitted with an exhaust gas catalytic converter should not be tow-started over a distance of more than 50 metres.
For the sake of the environment
Never warm up the engine when the vehicle is standing. Drive off right away. When driving the engine reaches its operating temperature more rapidly and the pollutant emissions are lower.
Petrol engines
These engines are fitted with a starter system which selects the correct fuel/air mixture for every external air temperature.
•Do not operate accelerator before and when starting engine.
•Interrupt the attempt at starting after 10 seconds if the engine does not start right awayand wait for about 30 seconds before repeating the attempt.
•It is possible that the fuse on the electrical fuel pump is defect if the engine still does not start. Check the fuse and replace it if necessary ⇒page 213.
•If the engine does not start, contact the nearest specialist garage to obtain professional assistance.
It may be necessary, if the engine is very hot, to slightly depress the accelerator after the engine has started.
Diesel engines
Glow plug system
Diesel engines are equipped with a glow plug system, the preglow period being controlled automatically in line with the coolant temperature and outside temper-ature.
The preglow indicator light  comes on after the ignition has been switched on.
You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heating period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
•You should start the engine immediately after the glow plug warning light  has gone out.
•The glow plug warning light will come on for about one second if the engine is at a normal operating temperature or if the outside temperature is above +5°C. This means that you can start the engine right away.
•Interrupt the attempt at starting after 10 seconds if the engine does not start right awayand wait for about 30 seconds before repeating the attempt.
•It is possible that the fuse on the diesel preglow system is defect if the engine still does not start. Check the fuse and replace it if necessary ⇒page 213.
A3
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Automatic gearbox104
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 105 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 makes 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 necessary 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 inter-rupted, 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 would 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 181, “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 27 lights up in the instrument 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 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.
Keylock - Ignition key withdrawal lock
You can only withdraw the ignition key after switching off the ignition if the selector lever is in position P. If the ignition key is withdrawn, the selector lever is blocked in position P.
This function is only valid for some countries.
Kickdown function
The kickdown function provides you with maximum acceleration
power.
Depressing the accelerator pedal allows the kickdown function to be activated in the desired driving program. This function has precedence over the driving programme and serves for maximum acceleration 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
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Automatic gearbox106
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 gearbox 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 func-tional faults in the gearbox electronics. This is indicated by all of the segments in the display lighting up or going out.
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 208.
Towing a vehicle
Please pay attention to the following information if it comes necessary to tow-in your car ⇒page 209.A-
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Seat belts126
Seat belts
Why seat belts?
It is a proven fact that seat belts offer good protection in accidents ⇒fig. 130. Thus wearing a seat belt is a legal requirement in most countries.
Seat belts which have been correctly fastened and adjusted hold the occupants of the car in the correct seated position ⇒fig. 130. The belts reduce the kinetic energy (energy of motion) to a considerable extent. They also prevent uncontrolled move-ments which, in turn, may well result in severe injuries.
The occupants of a vehicle who have fastened and correctly adjusted their seat belt, profit to a major extent from the fact that the kinetic energy is optimally absorbed by the belts. The structure of the front end of the vehicle and other passive safety measures, such as the airbag system, also contribute to reducing the kinetic energy. The energy produced is thus absorbed and there is less risk of injury.
Accident statistics prove that seat belts which are fastened and properly adjusted reduce the risk of an injury and enhance the chance of survival in a major accident ⇒page 127.
It is important that you pay attention to safety measures, particularly when trans-porting children in the vehicle ⇒page 142, “Transporting children safely”.
WARNING
•Fasten your seat belt each time before setting off, also when driving in town! This also applies to the people seated at the rear - risk of injury!
•Expectant women must also always wear a seat belt. This is the only way of ensuring optimal protection for the unborn child ⇒page 128, “Fastening three-point seat belts”.
•It is important for the belt webbing to be properly routed if the seat belts are to offer the maximum protection. You can see a description of how safety belts should be fitted properly on the next pages.
Note
Please comply with any differing legal requirements when using the seat belts.
Fig. 130 Driver wearing seat belt
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Transporting children safely146
The optimal solution for babies of up to about 9 months old weighing up to 10 kg or babies up to about 18 months old weighing up to 13 kg is a child safety seat which is fastened in the opposite direction of travel ⇒fig. 150.
Child seats in which the child is facing with its back towards the direction of travel should not be used on the front passenger seat when the vehicle is fitted with a front passenger airbag ⇒page 143, “Use of child safety seats on the front passenger seat”.
WARNING
•It is essential to always switch off the front passenger airbag (airbags) at a specialist garage or with the switch for front passenger airbag(s)* when attaching in exceptional circumstances a child safety seat on the front passenger seat where the child is seated with its back facing in direction of travel (in some countries also when the child is facing the direction of travel) ⇒page 140.
•In certain countries national legal provisions require that besides the front passenger airbag also the side or head passenger airbags are deacti-vated. Please comply with any differing national legal regulations regarding the use of child safety seats.
•If this is not done, a child seated on the front passenger seat may suffer severe or even fatal injuries if the front passenger airbag or airbags are deployed.
•You should have the front passenger airbag (or airbags) reactivated just as soon as you no longer use a child safety seat on the front passenger seat.
Child safety seats in Group 1
Child seats in Group 1 are for babies and small children up to 4 years of age with a weight of between 9 and 18 kilograms. It is best for children in the lower range of this group, to use a child seat which allows the child to sit with its back to the direc-tion of travel. It is best for children in the upper range of the Group 0+, to use a child seat which allows the child to sit ⇒fig. 151 in the direction of travel.
Child seats in which the child is facing with its back towards the direction of travel should not be used on the front passenger seat when the vehicle is fitted with a front passenger airbag ⇒page 143, “Use of child safety seats on the front passenger seat”.
WARNING
•It is essential to always switch off the front passenger airbag (airbags) at a specialist garage or with the switch for front passenger airbag(s)* when attaching in exceptional circumstances a child safety seat on the front passenger seat where the child is seated with its back facing in direction of travel (in some countries also when the child is facing the direction of travel) ⇒page 140.
•In certain countries national legal provisions require that besides the front passenger airbag also the side or head passenger airbags are deacti-vated. Please comply with any differing national legal regulations regarding the use of child safety seats.
Fig. 151 Child seat with padded table in Group 1 installed on rear seat bench facing the direction of travel
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Intelligent Technology154
Brakes
What has a negative effect on braking efficiency?
Wear-and-tear
Wear-and-tear to the brake pads is greatly dependent on the operating conditions of the vehicle and your style of driving. Particularly if you drive a great deal in towns and over short distances or if you adopt a sporty style of driving, it may be neces-sary to have the thickness of the brake pads inspected at a specialist garage between the service inspections.
Wet roads or road salt
There may be a certain delay before the brakes take full effect under certain condi-tions such as when driving through water, during heavy rain showers or after the vehicle has been washed in an automatic vehicle wash, since the brake discs and brake pads may be moist or even have a coating of ice on them in winter. You should dry the brakes as soon as possible (by applying and releasing the brakes several times, if the road conditions and the traffic situation allows it).
There also may be a certain delay before the full braking efficiency is available when driving on roads which have been treated with road salt if you have not used the brakes for some considerable time beforehand. The layer of salt on the brake discs and brake pads must first be rubbed off when you apply the brakes.
Corrosion
Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt on the bake pads occur if the vehicle has been parked for a long period and if you do not make much use of the braking system.
We recommend cleaning the brake discs by firmly applying the brakes at a fairly high speed if you do not make much use of the braking system or if surface corro-sion is present ⇒.
Faults in the brake surface
If you notice that the braking distance has suddenly become longer and that the brake pedal can be depressed further, it is possible that a brake circuit of the dual-circuit brake system has failed. Drive, in such cases, to the nearest specialist garage without delay in order to have the problem rectified. Drive at a reduced speed while on your way to the dealer and adapt your style of driving to the higher brake pedal pressure required.
Low brake fluid level
An insufficient level of brake fluid may result in problems in the brake system. The level of the brake fluid is monitored electronically ⇒page 28, “Brake system ”.
WARNING
•Only apply the brakes for the purpose of drying and cleaning the brake discs if the traffic conditions permit this. Do not place any other road users in jeopardy.
•When retrospectively mounting a front spoiler, solid wheel hubs etc. one must ensure that the air supply to the front wheel brakes is not reduced otherwise the braking system could run too hot.
•Allow for the fact that new brake pads do not achieve their full braking efficiency until approximately 200 kilometres. New brake pads must be first “run in” before they develop their optimal friction force. You can, however, compensate for this slightly reduced braking force by increasing the pres-sure on the brake pedal. This guideline also applies to any new brake pads installed at a future date.
Caution
•Never allow the brakes to rub by applying slight pressure if you do not wish to brake the vehicle. This causes the brakes to overheat and can also result in a longer braking distance and excessive wear.
•Before negotiating a steep downhill section, please reduce your speed and shift down into the next lower gear (manual gearbox) or select a lower driving stage (automatic gearbox). This enables you to make full use of the braking power of the vehicle and reduces the strain on the brakes. Any additional braking should be done intermittently, not continuously.
Brake booster
The brake booster boosts the pressure which you generate with the brake pedal. The necessary pressure is only generated when the engine is running.
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